Iconic WA fast-food chain flies east to Sydney

Chicken Treat has arrived in NSW.

WA's Iconic Chicken Treat brand has finally reached the east coast state of New South Wales, after nearly five decades of operating primarily in Western Australia.

Chicken Treat has been an iconic, well loved brand in WA since its establishment 1976, by Frank Romano, with more than 55 stores throughout the state.

Now, after years of planning and delays due to COVID-19, Chicken Treat’s expansion plans are becoming a reality.

The first Sydney Chicken Treat store opened in western Sydney at Eastern Creek Quarter and has been a hit with a second store opening on January 9, at Crows Nest.

The Sydney stores are part of an ambitious plan by the company to open 33 stores around the country in just 18 months. By June 2023, Chicken Treat will add another 9 stores in locations across Australia. Each store will be locally owned and operated by a member of the community.

If you're from Queensland or South Australia, you may have already heard of Chicken Treat. In the 1990s, the WA fast food chain expanded its operations to SA and in 2002 the stores were rebranded to Red Rooster after its (former) parent company Australian Fast Foods purchased the Red Rooster chain.

Then in 2010, when Chooks Fresh and Tasty was purchased by QSR Holdings, its WA and Queensland stores were rebranded as Chicken Treat.

(IMAGE: Chicken Treat)

WA Premier Mark McGowan said Chicken Treat is "synonymous with WA and it’s a credit to the Chicken Treat team for maintaining something genuinely Western Australian."

“Chicken Treat supports 1,500 jobs in its WA operations across 54 stores from Broome to Albany."

"Congratulations to Chicken Treat on its growth and expansion which will see a WA icon spread its wings across the country."

Chicken Treat CEO Mimma Battista has been at the helm for eight years and has made it her mission to bring the brand to more Australians.

“We’re thrilled to be expanding to the East Coast with two stores opening in Sydney this month, and sites secured in the ACT, to open early next year,” she said.

“The feedback we’ve received from our Eastern Creek customers since opening on Monday has been outstanding and we’re so happy they’re getting to experience what WA locals have loved for decades."

Ms Battista said the brand had undergone an overhaul in preparation for its national launch.

“We’ve seen hospitality businesses hit hard by COVID, and prior to that, WA experienced tough economic times, but Chicken Treat is thriving, with continued strong growth over the past 5 years,” she said.

"Part of that is due to the fact we’ve contemporised Chicken Treat and when you come into store, you’ll see we have fun with the brand and with the food but we’re serious about quality and taste."

"We can’t wait to introduce Chicken Treat to the people of Sydney and beyond."

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