Wisconsin International Limited to Export its Burger Wisconsin concept
Wellington, New Zealand. Wisconsin International Limited (WIL) today announced that it plans to develop the Burger
Wisconsin business internationally through partnership arrangements in target territories.
Tim Stewart, Managing Director of WIL, said, “We have a fantastic business model that has proven over the last 17 years
that it is capable of delivering a great product to customers and good returns to the operators.
“Our intellectual property has been used to establish 27 stores throughout New Zealand and it’s time we took that IP to
the rest of the world where we believe it has already enjoyed considerable success.”
In May 2000 the then owners of Burger Wisconsin entered into an agreement with ‘The Great Trading Company’ in the United
Kingdom, a company controlled by Greg Driscoll, Brandon Allen and Adam Wills, for the use of Burger Wisconsin
information to establish a similar business in the UK and Ireland. WIL believes Driscoll, Allen and Wills used that
intellectual property to establish the GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) brand in London in early 2001.
“We know our IP is a proven performer and we believe the time has come to expand our wings beyond New Zealand. We are in
active discussions with potential partners who will be able to bring valuable execution and market penetration
capabilities in our first target market. We hope to conclude appropriate partnership arrangements over the next few
months,” Mr Stewart said.
ENDS
Background
Wisconsin International Limited
Wisconsin International Limited controls the Intellectual Property behind the Burger Wisconsin concept in all
territories except NZ and Australia.
It has some common shareholding, but is otherwise a separate and distinct business from Burger Wisconsin Limited which
operates the Burger Wisconsin franchising system in New Zealand.
WIL shareholders include interests associated with Mick Davenport - the founder of the Burger Wisconsin format and Tim
Stewart, one of the current operators of the Burger Wisconsin franchise in New Zealand.
Burger Wisconsin Limited
Burger Wisconsin is a New Zealand institution. This nationwide chain of gourmet burger takeaway stores was started by
Michael Davenport in 1989 in Wadestown, Wellington. The original store still trades from the same location.
Michael saw a gap in the market to introduce a high quality gourmet burger meal to suburban locations. He was ahead of
his time bringing fresh ingredients and such flavours and tastes as pesto, satay, avocado and camembert to takeaways.
Burger Wisconsin stores were outfitted in a retro-modern style with polished wooden floors, wooden bar tops and café
style music, quality magazines and fresh flowers, to give customers a cool environment to receive their burger which is
individually made to each customer’s order.
Burger Wisconsin is a mature and strong franchise operation, and its stores have traded very profitably.
Through franchising, store numbers have grown to 27 outlets throughout NZ.
In recent years there has been an explosion of ‘fast food’ options, mainly focussed on the ‘fast’ rather than the food.
Burger Wisconsin has stayed rooted in the original ideals of serving a top quality gourmet burger, grilled for health,
made to order, with fresh ingredients.
Michael still makes the burger patties for the group to the same recipe as he started; lean beef, herbs and spices, with
no artificial additives. Other ingredients, all sourced from NZ suppliers, are made specifically for Burger Wisconsin to
original Wisconsin recipes. Salad ingredients are grown especially for Wisconsin and the sauces that give a Wisconsin
burger its unique taste are also created fresh each day.
Burger Wisconsin delivers a gourmet burger to those who wish to raise their Burger experience to a taste sensation.
Website: http://www.wisconsin.co.nz/
ENDS