National Food Chains Have Mildura in Their Sights

Photo Credit - www.soulorigan.com.au

Soul Origin, Donut King or Noodle Box — which one would you like to see in Mildura, and where would you put it?

All three national food chains are currently advertising franchise opportunities in Mildura, although at this stage none should be taken as a confirmed new opening.

Probably the most interesting of the three is Soul Origin.

The fresh food and coffee chain has a Mildura franchise opportunity listed on its own website, seeking someone to bring the brand to the region. The company's Mildura opportunity page is specifically listed under a Mildura Central Shopping Centre URL, suggesting the Fifteenth Street shopping precinct may be where the company sees its best fit, although no lease or store opening has been confirmed.

Soul Origin says Mildura's large regional catchment, stretching into southern New South Wales and parts of South Australia, makes it an attractive market. The Mildura opportunity is advertised at around $425,000 to $525,000.

Photo Credit - www.donutking.com.au

Then there is Donut King — and this one would actually be a comeback.

Mildura locals will remember Donut King operating at Mildura Central, with that store eventually closing.

Now Donut King has Mildura listed once again on its official franchise website as a “New Opportunity”, while a current franchise listing puts the investment at around $350,000 to $450,000.

Would you put it back at Mildura Central, or would Donut King work better somewhere completely different this time around?

Photo Credit - Noddle Box Facebook Page

The third name is Noodle Box, which is also currently advertising for a new Mildura franchise operator.

The Mildura opportunity is listed at around $250,000 to $350,000, although unlike Soul Origin there doesn't appear to be a particular Mildura site attached to the listing at this stage.

Noodle Box itself says that after a franchise partner is approved, the location and lease are finalised before the restaurant is designed and built — so there could still be plenty of options as to where a Mildura store might eventually end up.

None of this means we're about to see three new stores open their doors.

Someone still needs to take on each franchise, suitable sites need to be secured and the numbers have to stack up.

But it is interesting to see several national brands actively looking at Mildura at the same time.

So we'll throw two questions out there:

Which one would you most like to see — Soul Origin, Donut King or Noodle Box?

And just as importantly...

Where in Mildura would you put it?