New York Deli operates three stores in Christchurch. Photo / Supplied
New York Deli operates three stores in Christchurch. Photo / Supplied
South Island-only sandwich chain New York Deli is gearing up to open stores across the country with its sights set firmly on the Auckland market.
The Christchurch company, which was established 15 years ago, currently has three stores.
New York Deli suffered extensively following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Two of its stores were damaged and it went through a rough patch to recovery.
Retail veteran and former Burger King executive Jack Meertens and business partner Mike Parkinson took over the business in 2016 from original founders Ian Coker and Belinda Hopson, who moved to Australia.
"We revamped the whole model. When we took it over it wasn't set up to actually expand throughout the country with multiple stores. We've opened one store since, and we're now looking to expand nationwide as we're ready for it," Meertens said.
New York Deli will open at least two or three stores in Auckland and one each in Wellington and Dunedin within the next 12 months, Meertens said.
It is in talks with potential franchisees in Auckland, he said, and looking at Newmarket, Ponsonby and the Auckland CBD as locations for stores.
"We're hoping to expand into Christchurch first but we are looking to go nationwide as soon as we can," he said. "We're advertising at the moment for Dunedin, Queenstown, in talks with people in Hamilton, and Tauranga. We're looking for franchisees in different places."
Meertens and Parkinson worked with Burger King for 15 years and during that time opened 75 stores for the brand, which is owned by US private equity firm Blackstone Group. The pair then worked for Carl's Jr and opened the first eight Carl's Jr stores in New Zealand.
"The connection with New York Deli came about with Burger King when the fast-food chain looked at going into coffee. They ended up with a franchisee to open up a coffee place at [Christchurch] airport and those were the people who ended up starting New York Deli," he said.
"[For a time] they were actually our franchisees then we took over their business."
Inside a New York Deli store. Photo / Supplied
New York Deli was established in 2003, opening its first store in Addington. It has an American influence and specialises in gourmet sandwiches and bagels.
The brand would also look to expand internationally - once the chain filled the gap in the domestic market, Meertens said.
"People are always looking for a good meal, a good sandwich, and brands need to stay ahead of what consumers want... this is definitely something that's missing in the market," he said.
"The food industry is very far-evolved, every six to 12 months you need something new."
