Cater Care is excited to announce the expansion of our Retail Division beyond airports and hospitals, making our debut in high street food outlets. This exciting venture kicks off with our acquisition of three Red Rooster high street stores in Melbourne, bringing fresh and delicious meals to bustling neighbourhoods. To lead this initiative, we’ve appointed Troy, an experienced and community-focused General Manager, who is set to take these stores to new heights.
Our new Red Rooster high street stores are not just about bringing you your favourite chicken; they reflect a broader shift in how we engage with local communities. As high streets continue to evolve as community hubs, these stores will play a vital role in revitalising the area, offering convenience and quality, along with extended operating hours to cater to our early morning breakfast and coffee offering and also the late-night crowd.
Troy, who joined Cater Care recently specifically to oversee these new stores, is already making waves with his vision of not only meeting but exceeding customer expectations. With three stores launching now and another opening before Christmas, his leadership will be instrumental in shaping the future of Red Rooster’s high street presence. We had a great chat with Troy to find out more about his intentions for these Red Rooster high street food outlets, and wanted to share his vision with you.
Each of the three new stores is uniquely designed to reflect the Red Rooster brand we all know and love, with a few additional twists. Customers can expect a fresh and vibrant look that combines comfort with convenience, creating a welcoming space to enjoy a meal or grab a quick takeaway. The stores will also cater to the rise in food delivery services, with smooth processes to support the food delivery teams, ensuring an easy experience whether customers choose to dine in or order online.
More key features of these new locations include an expanded menu, focusing on breakfast and coffee to cater to the early morning crowd, and later closing times to accommodate those needing a late bite. Troy is particularly excited about these offerings.
“I’m looking forward to resetting what great looks like in these stores, driving breakfast and coffee within these Eastern locations in Melbourne. To re-establish these stores back into the local communities, our focus will be to build on 3 key pillars in driving customer engagement and loyalty. These key pillars being Great Food, Amazing Customer Service in a Clean and Safe environment. The Red Rooster product when delivered to standard on a consistent basis truly has the brand as a QSR of choice on a national footprint”
Troy’s extensive experience managing multiple locations is what made him the ideal person for this job, and has given him the ability to set clear goals and pathways for success. For Troy, the most exciting part is the opportunity to build something from the ground up.
“It’s not often you get the chance to mould a new division from its inception,” he says. “I’m people-focused and really enjoy making a difference with the people around us. Starting something new means you’re in there with the team, working together to create foundations for the future.”
Troy brings a wealth of experience and a people-focused mindset to his role. He is particularly excited about leading a young and dynamic workforce in this new sector. He sees it as a chance to help team members grow in their careers and emphasises the importance of listening to their views.
“… looking at it from an employee perspective is something we’re really going to push. Making sure we create an environment where the whole team feel they have a voice, in their workplace. The ability to drive engagement with the team creates a positive environment for the team member themself, fellow team members, customer and sustained commercial performance. Especially with the younger demographic of our employees – they’re clear on what they do and don’t like and we need to have a platform for them to speak. Even if we don’t want to hear what they are saying ”
Troy’s leadership style is centred around setting clear communication, setting goals and importantly ensuring that the senior team has a voice in decision-making. He makes it a point to include senior team members in creating goals so that everyone is aligned on what success looks like, and in turn increases the messaging through the team as they interact with customers every day. His approach is to drive engagement by empowering his team, making customer service and employee satisfaction top priorities. “It’s all about bringing the team along for the journey and setting a strong foundation for what great looks like.”
Red Rooster fans can look forward to more than just their favourite meals. Aligning with Cater Care’s commitment to customer experience, Troy and his team are working on creating a customer experience that’s second to none. “We want to regain the trust of the locals through our 3 key pillars of Great Food, Amazing Service and Clean and Safe restaurants and connecting with local sporting clubs and community groups .” he says. The stores will also feature some exciting new additions, including a focus on breakfast and quality coffee—a first for Red Rooster in these areas.
In addition to this, the stores will be open later to cater to the growing demand for late-night options, and customers can expect faster, more efficient service for food delivery. “It’s important to balance in-store experience with delivery convenience,” Troy notes. “The late night Delivery Market is exciting as customers continue to look for convenience post traditional food offerings trading times.”
And matching Cater Care’s goals in our CSR plans, Troy is passionate about engaging with the local community and fostering strong relationships. His stores will actively support local sporting clubs, schools, and community events, helping to create a sense of belonging. “The community hybrid and high street concept is coming back,” he explains. “We’re going to invest in upgrading the stores and connecting with the people who live, commute through and work in these areas.”
Troy also emphasises sustainability in operations, with ongoing initiatives to reduce waste and improve efficiency. As the stores evolve, he plans to ensure that sustainability remains a priority, aiming to create a positive impact on both the environment and the local community.
As the stores become fixtures in their local communities, Troy is already planning for the future. “We’re always looking at ways to improve and grow,” he says. Future plans include potential expansions, introducing new menu items, catering and launching exclusive promotions tailored to each store’s customer base. Troy is particularly excited about partnerships with local sports clubs and schools, further strengthening ties to the neighbourhoods these stores serve.
In addition, there will be a continued focus on sustainability initiatives, ensuring the stores operate efficiently, reduce waste, and deliver top-notch service. With longer opening hours and a commitment to both in-store and delivery convenience, the stores are set to cater to a broader range of customers and become true high street favourites. We’re excited to see how Troy’s leadership and vision will shape their success—stay tuned for our grand opening events, and be sure to stop by for a taste of what’s new at Red Rooster!
If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be (besides Red Rooster, of course)?
“Slow cooked beef cheeks—rich, slow cooked for 12–15 hours. The trick is to include Stout as part of the slow cook process with the velvety flavours of Guinness through it. It just falls apart. Such a beautiful taste.”
What’s your favourite thing to do in your free time when you’re not managing the stores?
“Home with the animals. I have quite a few rescue animals—dogs, parrots, cats, and various others. Relaxing with friends.”Cater Care Retail Hits the High Street: Meet the Manager
Rob Rutter
Chief Operating Officer – Retail
Ph: 0424 190 565
rob.rutter@catercare.com.au
