Creating a twist in an old recipe is STACKED’s bread and butter

The sandwich shop grew from one to seven locations in just two years.

A drive to provide locally sourced, no preservatives, no hormones, and antibiotic-free food was the driving force behind STACKED, a fast-casual brand focused on providing a creative twist to the old sandwich recipe.

Created in 2020, STACKED aims to provide consumers with a sustainable choice in the food they consume.

To find out more about STACKED, QSR Media sat down with its director, Steven Khawaga to talk about how STACKED first began and where he currently sees it heading.

QSR Media: In three sentences, tell us about STACKED.

STACKED is an innovative take on the sandwich and has turned something you’ve eaten a million times into a completely fresh and new experience! By offering REAL food made from REAL ingredients, our hand-crafted artisan sandwiches and signature bowls sandwiches are delicious, and generous and are made to order ready for you to enjoy in just a few minutes!

When did the idea of STACKED first start?

We began our culinary journey with the goal of creating the most delicious sandwiches on the planet. An ambitious goal, sure—but an important one, nevertheless. The idea behind STACKED was to create a new and improved take on the traditional sandwich shop. To take something that everyone knows and loves so much and then put a completely fresh and innovative spin on it to make it so much more enjoyable.

Our highest priority was to provide our customers with REAL food that was sourced locally with no preservatives, no added hormones and antibiotic-free. We care deeply about where our individual ingredients come from, how they are grown and how they are prepared. That’s why we have made a conscious decision to partner only with farmers, bakers and purveyors who are just as committed to producing quality ingredients as we are.

Next, we wanted to take our customers on a trip around the world. So, whether you want to reminisce on your travels to New York whilst enjoying a Reuban or perhaps our Fiesta bowl takes you back to Mexico…whatever your flavour or your cuisine, STACKED can take you there.

What makes you stay competitive in the space?

STACKED offers a range of 14 artisan sandwiches and 8 signature bowls in total, with each element making up each creation individually created by us and uniquely ours.

Our unique offering of sandwiches and bowls is of high quality and huge portions— purposely designed to leave customers happy and satisfied whilst providing a range that is diverse enough to enjoy every day.

Typical fast-food uses a lot of cheap artificial additives and sugars to create their meals whereas we have a 100% commitment to serving REAL food made from REAL ingredients that are unprocessed and the way nature intended for them to be consumed.

Today, consumers care deeply about where their individual ingredients come from, how they are grown and how they are prepared. That’s why we have made a conscious decision to partner only with farmers, bakers and purveyors who are just as committed to producing quality ingredients as we are and we believe that the discerning consumer will reward us with their patronage.

Tell us about your offerings. What are the top five things you can tell us?

Firstly, the STACKED app is a MUST-HAVE app. If you are enjoying Mcdonald's 30 days of 30 deals, you will LOVE the STACKED app which has a new deal EVERY day. 365 days, 365 deals. The STACKED app rewards you with a $10 voucher whenever you accumulate 150 points, and you can grab a $5 ‘Welcome Voucher’ when you first download the app to score $5 off your first purchase with us. And with a collection of random surprises for our loyal customers, the STACKED app is definitely the gift that keeps on giving.

● Kickin’ Chicken: Introducing a chicken sandwich that’s so good, that the only way to properly describe it would be to call it what it is: a Kickin’ Chicken sandwich. Need we say more? Enjoy Grilled Chicken Breast + Melted Mozzarella Cheese + Caramelised Onion + Tomato + Fresh Rocket + Stacked Aioli + Chilli Oil on our Freshly Baked Pain de Campagne Roll.
● Julius: Some say that the Caesar Salad was named after Julius Caesar because it was his favourite dish. But it was, in fact, Italian-American restaurateur Caesar Cardini who first created the salad in 1924 in Tijuana, Mexico. The Julius is our popular take on the Ceasar salad. Enjoy Grilled Chicken Marinated in Italian Herbs on a bed of Cos Lettuce + Crispy Bacon + Boiled Egg + Cherry Tomato + Croutons + Parmesan Cheese + Stacked Caesar Dressing.
● Smokey Bandit: Amongst all the Southern United States traditions, the low and slow cooking methodology of the smokey BBQ may just top them all. If you’re looking to experience the joy of the big ole smoker, this may well be the most legendary sandwich you’re ever likely to eat. Slow Cured Beef Brisket (Sliced and Stacked) + Coleslaw + Swiss Cheese + Stacked Smokey BBQ Sauce on Grilled Buttery Sourdough.
● Sakana: This traditional Japanese term referred to food that was typically served with sake, and since fish was a popular choice for such a dish, over the years the term Sakana is now commonly used to mean fish. Seared Salmon Fillet on a bed of Brown Rice and Quinoa + Kale + Shredded Carrot + Edamame + Black Sesame Seeds + Stacked Teriyaki Dressing with a Drizzle of Wasabi Mayonnaise.

What business strategy do you think helped you do a successful launch?

From day one, STACKED had the support and infrastructure needed to get this great idea off the ground. Everyone involved not only loved and believed in the vision of STACKED, but we also had an experienced team and the financial support to turn this vision into reality.

From 1 to 7 locations in 2 years, how did you do it? What do you attribute this success to?

Our quick growth all comes down to a good business plan that was well-executed and well-funded. This paired with our customers' genuine love and support of the product we sell was the perfect storm to rapidly expand the STACKED name and create the success we see today.

What are some of your future plans?

STACKED is excited by the prospects of franchising potential. We have already started building the foundational blocks to get this process started and look forward to introducing all of Australia to the delicious foodie experience that is, STACKED.

Where do you see STACKED in five years and how will you achieve this?

We have big goals for STACKED, and we have the business plan to help get us there. Our vision is that in the next 5 years, there will be 50 STACKED stores Australia-wide that are a combination of company-owned and franchised stores. STACKED is backed by a loyal customer base and private equity partners that offer secure funding and is driven by an experienced hospitality team that knows how to implement the business plan. We will achieve our goal of 50 stores in 5 years thanks to all the support, drive and industry knowledge we have.