Cookie Time opens Queenstown store

SHANE COWLISHAW

SWEET SUCCESS: Cookie Time general manager Lincoln Booth, left, and franchise owner Verity Richard with the "Cookie Muncher", designed by Weta Workshop, for its new Queenstown store.

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The muncher has arrived in Queenstown, and he is hungry.

Christchurch's Cookie Time's Cookie Bar opens in the resort today and the company is hoping its first retail store outside of Christchurch will be the blueprint for world domination.

The Camp St store features hot milk from a beer tap, interactive Apple computers linked to Facebook and an animatronic Cookie Muncher designed by Wellington special effects experts Weta Workshops.

A "pick and mix" wall will also allow customers to fill a bucket or box with their favourite cookies for $15.

Cookie Time general manager Lincoln Booth said the company chose Queenstown for the first store because of the number of international visitors in the resort.

While the company had a large presence throughout New Zealand, the global market remained untapped and it was hoped the store could be replicated worldwide, he said. "The ultimate dream is to get into a successful franchise model and franchise throughout the world."

The firm had been trying to find innovative ways to generate income during the recession rather than just hunker down.

Franchise owner Verity Richard, who began at the company as a receptionist 16 years ago, said she was thrilled the store was opening after six months of hard work.

She had moved to Queenstown with her husband and two children, which had been daunting but they were starting to settle in, she said.

The store employs four staff.

- © Fairfax NZ News