Another cult-US restaurant chain announces it's opening in Australia
In the past few years, a string of classic US food chains have popped up on our shores, including Wingstop, Five Guys and Wendys.
Now Auntie Anne's, the world's largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise, is making its debut Down Under with the opening of its first store Westfield Parramatta on July 26.
'This has been a dream in the making for years,' Yu-Jin Lee, who along with his business partner Johann Wong has worked with Auntie Anne's to bring it to Australia, told news.com.au.
'We have always loved pretzels and one of our fondest childhood memories is going to the mall to grab an Auntie Anne's pretzel.
'It's a cherished experience for us and we hope to recreate and share that joy in Australia now too.'
The popular chain, which sells an array of sweet and savory pretzels, first opened its doors in Pennsylvania back in 1988 and now has more than 2000 locations around the world – with five new ones planned across Australia in the next 12 months.
Aussie customers can expect the full Auntie Anne's experience, Yu-Jin Lee said, including signature pretzel varieties such as original, cinnamon sugar, sweet almond, and pepperoni cheese, along with sweet and savoury nugget bites with the dough mixed, hand-rolled and baked on site.
'Our pretzels are baked continuously throughout the day, so no matter when you stop by, you're getting them hot, fresh, and at their absolute best.
'There's a huge appetite for the brand already – we've seen the buzz online and the excitement is real.'
Indeed, several eagle-eyed pretzel fans have spotted the new Sydney store before it has even opened, taking to social media to share their joy.
'OMG, I manifested this,' one wrote.
'Legitimately have been waiting years for this, let's go,' another shared.
As one declared: 'If they open in Melbourne I'll go broke, no joke.'
But as Auntie Anne's joins a long line of American fast-food restaurants opening in Australia, are Aussies going to become sick of the once hard-to-get food? Melbourne food blogger @nectoriouspapi doesn't think so.
'It's really exciting to see US chains opening in Australia,' he told news.com.au.
'Many of us have heard the hype, or if they're lucky tried the items on holiday, but to be able to eat these well-known brand's on our own doorstep means it's now available to everyone.
'These brand's are often names we've grown up watching in the movies, so it's a thrill to have the option to buy something we've never tried. The big test is really whether or not they stand the test of time.'
The foodie, who hasn't yet tried any Auntie Anne's menu items, said his biggest gripe with the cult US chains opening in Australia is that 'Sydney always gets it first'.
This was a sentiment echoed on social media, where many Aussies called for a store in their local area.
'Can we get some of these places in Melbourne?' one sighed, as another added: 'This was my fave in America, but I don't live anywhere near Sydney. Boo.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
a few seconds ago
- ABC News
RBA meeting minutes reveal plan for 'cautious and gradual' rate cuts clashed with unemployment 'surge'
They say hindsight is 20-20, but three members of the Reserve Bank board are likely to turn up at the next meeting with the strong temptation to say, "we told you so". The RBA has released the minutes from its meeting two weeks ago, when interest rates were left on hold, catching the market and most private-sector economists off guard. That decision to keep rates steady was made by a six to three majority, with the minority arguing there was no need to wait. "The case to lower the cash rate target at this meeting rested on a view that there was already sufficient evidence to be confident that inflation was on track to be sustainably back at the midpoint of the target range, if not lower," the minutes revealed. The minority in favour of a cut argued that US tariff policy would be a drag on future global economic growth, that Australia's economic expansion remained "subdued", households were saving more, wages growth and services inflation were weakening, and that "recent data suggested a loss of momentum in activity". "Moreover, there was uncertainty around whether market sector employment growth would increase by enough to offset an expected slowing in non-market sector employment growth to maintain momentum in overall employment growth," the minutes showed. That last concern appears to have since been vindicated by another weak set of jobs numbers, released last week, showing unemployment had jumped from 4.1 per cent in May to 4.3 per cent in June, seasonally adjusted, although some analysts have attributed the scale of that increase to statistical variation. At her post-meeting press conference, RBA governor Michele Bullock said the disagreement among the board was not one of where rates should head, but merely the timing of further rate cuts. This is reflected in the formal minutes from the meeting. "All members agreed that, based on the information currently available, the outlook was for underlying inflation to decline further in year-ended terms, warranting some additional reduction in interest rates over time," the minutes noted. The majority who decided to keep interest rates on hold based their decision on a few key elements. Unlike the minority, most board members interpreted recent economic data as surprisingly upbeat, including the very monthly inflation figures that had prompted some market economists to bring forward their rate cut forecasts from August to July. "Monthly indicators of inflation had been marginally higher than were consistent with the staff's forecast for underlying inflation in the June quarter, growth in private demand in the March quarter had been a little stronger than expected and conditions in the labour market had so far not eased as anticipated," the majority argued. They also said that global economic outcomes had so far been more benign than feared at the previous May meeting, when rates had been cut, reducing the urgency for another rate cut. "Members noted that the baseline forecasts already incorporated some deterioration in global economic conditions because of higher tariffs and policy uncertainty, which was consistent with the evidence currently available on how the trade tensions and other factors might be resolved," the minutes revealed. "Moreover, the forecasts had been conditioned on a relatively modest and gradual path of further easing of monetary policy over the period ahead." After two rate cuts, the majority of the board was also concerned that it would be difficult for the RBA to know exactly when monetary policy had changed from being restrictive — that is, holding back economic growth — to neutral or boosting activity. Given the degree of uncertainty around what the current "neutral" level of the cash rate is, the majority argued that "lowering the cash rate a third time within the space of four meetings would be unlikely to be consistent with the strategy of easing monetary policy in a cautious and gradual manner". Despite the expressed caution of the majority on the RBA board, Abhijit Surya from Capital Economics expects rates to fall at next month's meeting on August 11-12, with further cuts to follow. "With the unemployment rate having surged in June and timely indicators suggesting that activity and inflation both remain subdued, the bank will almost certainly resume its easing cycle in August," he noted. "Looking further ahead, we expect the board to cut rates to 2.85 per cent by mid-2026, in line with the bank's stated goal of ensuring that monetary policy is no longer restrictive. "Our terminal rate forecast is below the 3.1 per cent currently predicted by the analyst consensus." Either way, that implies between three and four more rate cuts from the current cash rate of 3.85 per cent, unless the market has again misread the degree of caution among the majority of RBA board members.
News.com.au
a few seconds ago
- News.com.au
Home featured on Australia's Best House, hosted by Megan Gale, for sale
A Cairns home that featured on Australia's Best House, hosted by supermodel Megan Gale, has been listed for sale. Located in Bayview Heights, Naya Haus featured in the 2024 season of the show, and will soon appear on Australia By Design. It has earned multiple design awards, including BDQ State & Regional and Master Builder accolades. Sustainability is at its core, with 10kW solar panels, a 5000L water tank, and recycled or recyclable materials used throughout. Set on a 1227sq m block with panormaic views from every room, the residence offers a fusion of Japanese minimalism and tropical influences. It is listed with The Industry agents Megs Walker and Tegan Rees. 'Enjoy seamless indoor-outdoor living, cooling breezes, and thoughtful design perfect for multi-generational families,' the listing says. The heart of the home is the chef's kitchen, a culinary dream with its marble benchtops, custom cabinetry, and premium fittings. The king-sized master suite is a haven of luxury, featuring a walk-through robe, automatic curtains, and a sumptuous ensuite. Additional guest bedrooms are generously sized, and a versatile office or fourth bedroom offers private access, perfect for a home business or guest accommodation. The lower level boasts a studio/workshop and a flexible-use room that could serve as a gym, media room, or additional living space. Outdoors, the expansive verandah offers breathtaking views and a unique 3.4-metre round plunge pool equipped with app-controlled spa features, heating, and lighting. The property is designed for ease of maintenance, with a secure front yard, smart irrigation systems, and dual gated access leading to a spacious lower yard—ideal for future expansion. The oversized garage provides ample storage, and the home is equipped with integrated Clipsal 'Wiser' smart home technology, ensuring superior energy efficiency and modern convenience. Australia's Best House sees a team of judges tour some of Australia's most impressive homes in a search for a winner. Naya Haus featured in the 2024 season and has been described as a 'mastercalss in Japandi (Japanese-Scandanavian) style with sustainable living'. It has a price guide over $1.9 million.
News.com.au
12 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Whenever we could': Couple that moved to Australia in 2006 now own over 18 homes
A strategic couple have revealed how they own 18 properties after only moving to Australia in 2006. Rasti Vaibhav, 48, and his wife Rupali Rastogi, 43, moved to Australia from India with 'pretty much nothing' apart from permanent residency and a drive to build their lives together. When they arrived they stayed at Mr Vaibhav's cousin's home until they eventually secured a rental in Sydney's inner west. The pair secured solid jobs in IT and banking, earning a combined income of around $190,000 a year. However, they were both stunned by the high cost of living in Australia. 'The first few years we were just getting our footing in this country and it is so expensive here,' Mr Vaibhav told 'Your salary looks big on paper but, once you pay tax, what you have in your hand is pretty much nothing.' According to Mr Vaibhav, the couple always planned to buy property in Australia and build a secure home, but, shortly after arriving they realised it would be an uphill battle. Even as a dual-income couple with no dependants, it didn't take long for them to accept they couldn't afford a home Sydney. 'It took us no time to figure out that if we bought our own home to live in we would have to wait a lot longer because our savings rate wasn't much and the prices of properties were going up and up,' he said. 'The community we lived in was expensive.' Mr Vaibhav has a background in data analysis, architecture and banking, and the couple spent a considerable amount of time determining where to invest in property if they couldn't afford to buy where they were living at the time. 'When it became clear we couldn't afford our own home, we worked out how much we could afford and let that decide where we should buy,' he said. In the beginning, the couple were apprehensive about having to change their home buying plans, but there was simply no way their rate of saving was going to outpace a booming property market. In 2011, they bought a block of land in Newcastle, NSW, for $180,000 with a tidy 10 per cent deposit. On that block of land, they built a four-bedroom home and rented it out for $575 a week. It was positively geared 'from day one', boosting their income practically overnight. 'It raised our income by $30,000 and that allowed us to go back to the bank and increase our borrowing power more and more,' Mr Vaibhav said. The savvy pair have rinsed and repeated that cycle ever since. They analyse data in areas with high growth, purchase homes and then rent out the properties. 'It isn't about buying any property, it is about buying the right property, in the right area, at the right price,' he said. 'Banks lend money based on income and it isn't just about value of the property but the rent you're expecting from the property.' They now have 18 properties across four states, two of which feature granny flats, resulting in a total of 20 tenants. Their portfolio, as a whole, is positively geared but the amount they owe in mortgages is pretty staggering, at the moment it is sitting at over $5 million. The more they've built up their property empire, the more they've been able to take measured risks. For instance, buying a property and having it negatively geared, but that cost can then be covered by a positively geared property. Mr Vaibhav and his wife's property portfolio is conservatively valued at around $11.3 million and they're making $122,000 a year in pure income. The landlord emphasised that none of this was a mere happy accident; they had worked diligently to understand the market. 'We did a lot of digging and looked at data,' he explained. They're also not constantly offloading properties to cash-up, but rather see it as a long-term plan. 'People make the mistake of selling the property to get the profit out of it, but the challenge is there are lots of transaction costs,' he said, adding that he and his wife 'buy for the long term'. Mr Vaibhav said their strategy as always been to buy 'whenever we could' and they have always leveraged their current properties to buy more. The couple have also been careful to minimise risk by always having a financial nest egg. 'We've always followed the rule - and the number keeps changing as the portfolio has grown - but you should have (enough cash to cover) six months' worth of mortgage repayments,' he said. The couple are now living in the Northern Beaches, renting a $4 million mansion and living the good life. 'We're living the dream in the suburb we like to live in while our money is working really hard for us,' he said. Mr Vaibhav argued that, if he bought a $4 million property, he'd be spending over $200,000 a year on interest alone. He would rather invest his money in more affordable properties and keep buying multiple homes, than let it get chewed up in interest. Mr Vaibhav is very proud of what he and his wife have managed to achieve and said the biggest lesson they've learned is to think outside of your own suburb. He argued that the most common 'mistake' people make is trying to buy where they live, rather than where they can afford. 'Rentvesting is a powerful strategy that allows you to live the lifestyle you desire, while building long-term wealth through property investment,' he said. 'By renting where you want to live and investing where the financial opportunities are strongest, you can achieve both your dream lifestyle and financial security. 'It also opens the door to buying your dream home later, paying it off, and building the retirement funds you need.' The couple now run Get RARE properties an independent buyer's agency where they work to help other Aussies build their own property empires.
