Inside Josh Kilimnik's plans for Craveable Brands.
The former Domino's executive is set to solidify the group's hold in Australia's chicken market.
Craveable Brands' new CEO Josh Kilimnik is set to grow Australia's iconic brands like Red Rooster, moving from pizza to chicken as the company positions itself for its next phase of growth amidst a challenging and rapidly evolving quick-service restaurant sector.
QSR Media spoke with Kilimnik about his appointment, leadership priorities, and plans for the group's portfolio, which includes Red Rooster, Oporto, Chargrill Charlie's, and Chicken Treat.
QSR Media: How do you feel about your appointment as Group CEO, and what will be your key priorities in the role?
Josh Kilimnik: Craveable Brands holds a unique position in the Australian QSR landscape, with iconic brands like Red Rooster, Oporto, Chargrill Charlie's, and Chicken Treat that have deep connections with our customers.
Firstly, I'm looking forward to getting to know the franchisee network so we can focus on empowering our franchisees and people to drive the success of our brands. My key priorities will focus on continuing to elevate the customer experience, ensuring every interaction, whether in-store, drive-thru, or via digital channels, consistently delivers on our brand promise.
Driving sustainable growth and innovation in response to customer demand is also a priority, whilst maintaining the ethos of our home-grown Aussie brands everyone knows and loves.
How has your previous experience prepared you for this role, and what leadership approach will you bring to Craveable Brands?
My background has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of multi-brand operations, digital acceleration, and the critical importance of strong franchisee relationships within the QSR and retail sectors.
My leadership approach is collaborative and focused on execution with the customer as the lens. I believe in empowering strong teams, listening intently to our franchisees, and a top-quality customer experience. It’s about building consensus, fostering accountability, and leading with transparency to achieve our shared goals. We're a family of brands, and I intend to lead in a way that truly embodies that spirit of partnership.
Which market trends or shifts are you most excited about, and how does Craveable Brands plan to respond?
The QSR landscape is incredibly dynamic, and I’m particularly excited about a few key trends. Firstly, the power of data means we can move beyond generic offerings to truly understand and cater to individual customer preferences.
In addition, customers expect seamless experiences across all channels—whether it’s order-ahead, drive-thru, delivery, or dine-in. We're focused on leveraging technology to make the customer journey as frictionless and enjoyable as possible.
Lastly, as consumers' tastes evolve and change, we see an opportunity to innovate, ensuring we continue to deliver what the customer wants, whilst maintaining the quality associated with all our brands.
Can you share some of your near-term and long-term plans for each of your brands? Are there specific initiatives you’re currently focusing on?
Whilst each of our brands follows its own unique strategy, a few common themes guide our approach. In the near term, we are focused on enhancing customer engagement and convenience through improvements to mobile apps, loyalty programs, and online ordering platforms across all brands. At the same time, we remain committed to delivering exceptional quality in our signature products—whether it’s Red Rooster’s roast chicken, Oporto’s flame-grilled chicken, or Chicken Treat’s fried chicken—ensuring consistency and taste remain at the forefront.
Behind the scenes, we are streamlining processes and empowering our teams to deliver the very best to our customers. Alongside this, we are exploring targeted menu innovations and strategic additions designed to resonate with the distinct tastes of each brand’s customer base.
Looking to the long term, my vision centres on strategic network expansion, pursuing the right opportunities with the right franchisees in the right locations to drive the continued success of our brands. For Red Rooster, this means reinforcing its position as Australia’s home of roast chicken, emphasising value for families, and exploring exciting ways to broaden its chicken offerings. Oporto will continue to champion its flame-grilled, Portuguese-inspired heritage, highlighting its distinctive flavours and fresh appeal. Chicken Treat will focus on innovation in fried chicken while expanding its presence in key regions. Meanwhile, Chargrill Charlie’s will strengthen its premium positioning as the go-to destination for fresh, healthy char-grilled meals through quality-focused expansion and enhanced digital convenience.
What operational challenges do you anticipate stepping into this role, and how do you plan to address them?
The QSR industry is not without its challenges, particularly as we continue to see global macroeconomic trends putting pressure on supply chains and food and energy prices. We remain confident we can address these challenges through strategic sourcing, supply chain optimisation and menu innovation to support our franchisees to continue to drive profitability.
Looking ahead to 2026, what opportunities do you see, and how might they shape your strategies moving forward?
Looking ahead to 2026, I see tremendous opportunities for Craveable Brands to solidify its market leadership and adapt to an ever-evolving consumer landscape.
Data optimisation will continue to help us understand and cater to individual customer preferences. This means even more relevant offers, personalised marketing campaigns, and a deeper connection with our customers.
As global trends shape QSR, the local connection remains vital. Our brands are well-loved local Aussie icons. Strengthening our franchisees' roles as local business leaders and tailoring our approach to community needs will be key.
