Another one out of Perth and from the era of Mojo.
Red Rooster was original created by the Kailis family in 1972. A few years later Frank & Joe Romano founded Chicken Treat in Perth and Nick & Phil Iana founded Big Rooster in Queensland. Red Rooster was sold to Myer in 1981. Chicken Treat merged with Big Rooster under Australian Fast Foods, then they sold Big Rooster to Myer to merge with Red Rooster. In 2002 Australian Fine Foods (still under Frank Romano) purchased back both Big Rooster & Red Rooster from Myer – essentially coming full circle.
Western Australian (and Queensland to an extent) was interesting in a way back then from a fast food perspective. Where the rest of the country was close to 80% burgers to 20% chicken, WA was the reverse – mostly due to the dominance of Red Rooster & Chicken Treat.
The brands were very different though and still remain so. Chicken Treat used the Romano’s family recipe which included mediterranian seasoning and is considered by some to be more of a chicken lovers chicken.
Then of course came the infamous Chicketti in the early 90’s. I doubt anyone working on Reds in those days can forget all the new products they came up with. It seemed at times there was a new one being talked about each week. There was Chicketti of course, the oriental chicken wings, mini swiss burger – too many to name really.
Chicken Treat back in those days was really struggling for a position relative to Red Rooster but at the end of the day, despite some questionable ads at different times, they survived mostly because of the quality of their product & the tenacity of the Romano’s.
