Old Farts Memories & Discussions

[horrie hastings]

Back in the late 60 s and early to mid 70 s Henny Penny was in Sydney and gave Kentucky Fried Chicken a good run for its money, at the time it was the better product and didn't have to use the gimmicks and advertising that Kentucky did. Not sure exactly what year it finished up in Sydney but would have been the mid 70 s, it was still in country areas like Port Macquarie and Grafton in the 80 s but is found only found in the Newcastle region now and seems to be barely holding on there.

This pic is from the Bondi Junction store, i remember them at Casula and Canley Vale also but there were more in Sydney also at the time. Lol look at the prices back then.

 

[Nutz]

Back in the late 60 s and early to mid 70 s Henny Penny was in Sydney and gave Kentucky Fried Chicken a good run for its money, at the time it was the better product and didn't have to use the gimmicks and advertising that Kentucky did. Not sure exactly what year it finished up in Sydney but would have been the mid 70 s, it was still in country areas like Port Macquarie and Grafton in the 80 s but is found only found in the Newcastle region now and seems to be barely holding on there.

This pic is from the Bondi Junction store, i remember them at Casula and Canley Vale also but there were more in Sydney also at the time. Lol look at the prices back then.


View attachment 96262

I wonder if Red Rooster bought them out HH.

 

[horrie hastings]

I wonder if Red Rooster bought them out HH.

I don't think so, Red Rooster came along later and Red Rooster bought out a chain which was called Big Rooster. Henny Penny was owned by Steggles which was Newcastle based to start with so explains their presence still in the Hunter.
Would have been the late 70 s when another chain entered the equation. Homestead Chicken. Loved Homesteads crumbed mushrooms.

 

[horrie hastings]

Lol, Homestead Chicken at West Gosford, right next to a bottle shop, what a combo, fried chicken and beer .

Homestead were all around Sydney to for quite a while. Think they were a NZ owned company.

 

[Nutz]

I don't think so, Red Rooster came along later and Red Rooster bought out a chain which was called Big Rooster. Henny Penny was owned by Steggles which was Newcastle based to start with so explains their presence still in the Hunter.
Would have been the late 70 s when another chain entered the equation. Homestead Chicken. Loved Homesteads crumbed mushrooms.

Wow HH, you are a wealth of knowledge.
One franchise that is slowly dying is Hogsbreath.
In Port Moresby we used to call one of these food outlets "The Stab and Stop Shop"

 

[horrie hastings]

Wow HH, you are a wealth of knowledge.
One franchise that is slowly dying is Hogsbreath.
In Port Moresby we used to call one of these food outlets "The Stab and Stop Shop"

Yeah Hogs Breath will probably go the way of Sizzler, not adapting to the times, you can get a better feed at most local pubs with the same style of food that Hogs Breath offer Most people went to Sizzler for the salad bar and cheesy toast but their main offerings of meat and chicken were poor and over priced and could be bettered at just about any pub.

The one i thing i miss that you don't see around anymore are the old Chinese all you can eat buffets, sure the food was hit and miss and had plenty of fillers like hot chips and fried rice but there was something comforting about them and being able to fill up quite cheaply, was one in the city many years ago called York St Lantern, it moved from York St to just behind the Hoyts complex and also had another shop in King St for a while. Visited them many times before they closed.

 

[Nutz]

Yeah Hogs Breath will probably go the way of Sizzler, not adapting to the times, you can get a better feed at most local pubs with the same style of food that Hogs Breath offer Most people went to Sizzler for the salad bar and cheesy toast but their main offerings of meat and chicken were poor and over priced and could be bettered at just about any pub.

The one i thing i miss that you don't see around anymore are the old Chinese all you can eat buffets, sure the food was hit and miss and had plenty of fillers like hot chips and fried rice but there was something comforting about them and being able to fill up quite cheaply, was one in the city many years ago called York St Lantern, it moved from York St to just behind the Hoyts complex and also had another shop in King St for a while. Visited them many times before they closed.

Your so right there.
It's all about who your targeting and keeping the cash register ticking over.
It's a bit like a short cab fare. Some cabbies hate them but the driver who drove me home from surgery the other day said he'd prefer a $10 fare one after the other compared to waiting all day at a rank for that 1x 60 buck journey. It's all about keeping that meter ticking over.
At Balina RSL on a Sat-Sun night they have a members bistro, 10 buck roasts that net the club around 1 dollar once you pay staff, food and other costs, same with fish chips and salad. You also got a middy of beer at ½ price or pot of free soft drink. Point is the line up never seemed to dwindle. It is targeting the pensioners who thrive on a cheap feed and social atmosphere.
When someone finishes eating, another patron sits down.
The cash register keeps ticking over.
Morgan's Fish co-op in Scarborough Brisbane North has a continual line up, sometimes out the door waiting for fish and chips. Fish straight off the trawlers out behind shop.
Each order would be around 50 bucks.
How much money would they rake in. They are busy from around 10am and doesn't slow down until after 4pm.
They target the Brisbane folk wanting to get away from the city who want fresh seafood without having to drive hours for it.