The Milky Lane burger chain founders have signed a master franchise partner, Royale Hospitality, to take the brand across Australia, setting their sights on a company valuation of more than $100M with a network of 35 stores.
Royale Hospitality will add 26 restaurants to the current network, with a focus on prime locations and high-quality franchisees.
The hospitality group will drive the national rollout, leading site selection, franchisee recruitment and operational excellence. Further ahead, the business may explore partnering on corporate-owned sites as part of its long-term strategy.
This year, Milky Lane, founded by Christian Avant and Shane Fitzgerald in 2016, identified Queensland as a strong growth territory. Sites in Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast will open soon, with locations in Townsville, North Brisbane and Ipswich in the pipeline. In addition, in 2027, the burger chain will debut in Melbourne.
