NZ’s Good Group to play a major role in Australia’s restaurant recovery
Australia’s post COVID recovery is being assisted by one of New Zealand’s most successful restaurant operators.
Good Group operates high-end steakhouses, Asian fusion restaurants and bars in Queenstown and Auckland and now has plans for three new flagship restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne.
Good Group hopes to be operational by the end of the year with two multi-level restaurants: a Botswana Butchery and a White & Wong’s Asian eatery.
The restaurants could be part of a new dining precinct at Sydney CBD’s 25 Martin Place.
In the Melbourne CBD Good Group is looking open a second Botswana Butchery on Flinders Lane, within AMP Capital’s landmark Collins Place.
Fit-outs are now underway, with the restaurants due to open in Sydney in October and the Melbourne restaurant due to open in November.
Melbourne based Good Group director and CEO Russell Gray said he was “extremely optimistic” about Melbourne’s post COVID recovery despite multiple lockdowns.
“The pandemic threw in a major curve ball [to our expansion plans] but the good news is that both New Zealand and Australia have navigated COVID pretty well,” Gray told The Australian Financial Review.
“Yes, we have had multiple issues in Melbourne, but compared to the rest of the world, we are doing well.”
Gray moved to Melbourne three years ago to facilitate Good Group’s expansion into Australia, which has obviously been held back.
However, he sees a “real bounce back happening in both economies across both hospitality and tourism”, though a tourism recovery may take longer.
Gray believes the pandemic has given Good Group extra time to prepare and negotiate more favourable deals with landlords.
“Landlords are approaching new tenants through a very different lens than prior to pandemic. They are discussing upfront issues like lockdowns and closures.
“We’ve been able to negotiate good terms with landlords as a consequence of COVID. We feel very comfortable where we have landed in terms of the leases we entered into and the sites we have managed to get.”
Good Group will occupy three floors at 25 Martin Place, becoming the anchor tenant in this precinct. Botswana Butchery will hold a rooftop post.
Good Group will also occupy three levels and over 900sq m at 66 Flinders Lane in Melbourne.
The company has further expansion plans within those cities and in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“What has given us confidence are our Aussie fans,” Gray said.
“Given the nature of our locations, hundreds of thousands of Australians – tourists and corporates have come to our venues over the years.
“They have consistently said: ‘when will [you] bring your brands to Australia?’ We have answered the call.”
Irit Jackson, 17th June 2021
