AUCKLAND: Local fast food chain, Burger Fuel has proved popular in the Middle East despite falling sales in New Zealand. Burger Fuel sales were bolstered by the uptake in franchise fees in the Middle East. In 2007 Burger Fuel established itself in the market taking a net profit of $225,000 in the first six months, however turned around a loss of $219,000 last year. Middle East franchise fees contributing $442,000 have become the company's biggest revenue stream since New Zealand sales fell 13 percent to $1.7 million. Burger Fuel Chief Executive, Josef Roberts said the fast food chain is keen on cashing in further on its evident franchising success. “Burger Fuel is now continuing to evolve into a New Zealand based international franchise business,” Roberts said. “A focus on more stores, better service to our ever expanding customer base and further systemisation to ensure a stronger more scalable business model – will see us continue to make solid progress.” This year Burger Fuel opened four new stores in the Middle East, two in Saudi Arabia and in Dubai, taking the total number of stores in the region to six. Having signed a Master License for Egypt, Burger Fuel has entered into a joint venture with United Arab Emirates to open stores in Cairo and Abu Dhabi from 2012. BM
