Burger King vs arch rival

Don Farmer | Thursday, January 27, 2011 16:00

Masterton is poised to get another fast-food franchise with the expected arrival of global hamburger chain Burger King.

Burger King is thought to be the frontrunner for securing a Masterton Trust Lands Trust site in a prime location, the corner of Chapel St and Lincoln Rd, opposite the National Bank, for the construction of a restaurant.

Neither the trust nor Burger King executives would be drawn on what stage of negotiations, if any, had been entered into to secure the site.

Trust chairman Alan Sadler would only say trustees were involved in "confidential discussions with prospective tenants". Until now, the site has been home to Leecroft Chambers, which was a landmark building that had outlived its usefulness.

The trust owned the land but not the building and had to buy it from the previous owner in order to clear the site.

McKenzie Carpet Court shares the site but is being relocated by the trust to a new, purpose-built building in Dixon St.

Burger King's marketing general-manager Rachael Allison said the fast-food giant was looking to start up in Masterton but would not confirm the old Leecroft Chambers site was about to be secured.

She said: "Any discussion is commercially sensitive."

Should Burger King establish a restaurant on the site it will be setting up in business immediately opposite its worldwide rival McDonald's.

Also nearby is a Subway outlet. Fast-food restaurants already in the town include KFC, Noodle Canteen, Pizza Hut, Sushi Planet, Masterton Roast and Masterfried Chicken.

Burger King began in Florida in 1953, being originally called Ista-Burger King. By the end of last year the chain had 12,200 outlets in 73 countries, with 90 per cent being privately owned and run.