Aussies swallow Muffin Break

Foodco New Zealand has been swallowed up by Australian-based Foodco Group, which owns the company from which the New Zealanders license the company's Muffin Break franchises on this side of the Tasman.

There are 36 of the outlets in New Zealand and the Australian operation covers 250, including other brands such as Dreamy Donut and Jamaica Blue, the Australian Food News (AFN) website reported.

Muffin Break originated in Canada, and Foodco acquiring the rights to the concept and refined it for the Australasian market, opening the first Muffin Break shop in Queensland in 1989.

The first New Zealand shop opened in Auckland in 1994.

The takeover of the New Zealand operation would strengthen the brand, managing director Serge Infanti said.

Foodco would have scope to consolidate key business functions on each side of the Tasman to improve efficiency, he said.

The franchise operator was expected to add Jamaica Blue stores in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this year, and to expand from the two Dreamy Donut stores it has in Auckland to other areas of New Zealand.

- NZPA