It's meat patties at dawn in Queenstown

BY SHANE COWLISHAW IN QUEENSTOWN

Queenstown's burger wars are heating up, with a possible three different companies considering opening stores.

Invercargill gourmet burger restaurant Devil Burger co-director Matt Smellie confirmed it was exploring expansion options, although there was "nothing concrete".

Ferg Burger could also open a new store, while international burger chain Burger Fuel is also looking into the town, according to the owner of a new restaurant in town.

Mr Smellie said the Invercargill Devil Burger, opened about six months ago, was a prototype and there were plans to repeat it in other locations but doing that was a difficult task, he said.

There were three or four sites they were considering for expansion, with Queenstown being one of them, Mr Smellie said. The expansion could take the form of franchising, direct ownership or a combination of the two, he said.

When asked whether Queenstown could absorb any more burger restaurants, Mr Smellie said it was a tough question.

"I don't know, I really don't know. I think there's already two there now and it will be interesting to see if it (Queenstown) can handle it," he said.

Frank n Burger owner Melina Gilson, who rebranded the Naff Cafe last month, said she was doubtful the resort could sustain any more similar businesses.

Ferg Burger was looking to open a second store, on Church St, and Burger Fuel was also considering opening a store in Queenstown, she said.

Doing business in Queenstown was a lot harder than people thought, she said.

"We don't want it to go the way of the cafes, people keep opening new cafes and they go broke in six months," she said. "People don't factor that in and they think it's a cash cow but it's not."

Ferg Burger owner Anthony Smith declined to comment yesterday.

Burger Fuel marketing manager Alexis Lamb said the company was looking into a South Island site this year but she could not confirm where that was.

Queenstown, however, was "certainly a possibility", she said.

Meanwhile, a proposal for a new McDonald's in Frankton is still being considered.

Lakes Environmental planning manager Brian Fitzpatrick said a variation to the neighbouring Mobil site's consent to allow delivery trucks was being worked on and a decision would be made soon.

- © Fairfax NZ News