Miners in Queensland and Western Australia will be licking their lips in anticipation at the news that big brands like Donut King and Big Dad’s Pies will be heading their way. The Retail Food Group’s mining town strategy aims to capitalise on the underserviced but robust local economies with a roll out of its portfolio of franchise stores that also include Brumby’s Bakeries, Esquires Coffee Houses, Michel’s Patisserie and Pizza Capers.

In the line-up for stores are Moranbah, Emerald and Mackay in Queensland, and Kalgoorlie, South Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Carnarvon and Geraldton in Western Australia.

Faith Manning, RFG national sales and leasing coordination manager, said such regional areas had growing populations, a buoyant economy and increasing demand for new food retail options.

“Our mining town strategy began when we opened some stores in regional Queensland and found there was overwhelming demand. These are areas with high disposable incomes but often limited retail options,” she said.

A corporate-run Donut King has opened its doors in Emerald, and RFG has sites secured for a Pizza Capers outlet and a Brumby’s Bakeries store. At Kalgoorlie the focus is on Donut King and Brumby’s while RFG has opened a Michel’s outlet in Mackay and this will be accompanied by an Esquires Coffee Houses store.

“We’re now searching for potential franchisees – either those who already live in the area or would like to move to the area – to open stores,” Manning said.