Healthier food just the ticket for Virgin Blue's new Virgin Village

Written on the 15 September 2008

Sandwiches, salads and smiles will be on the menu at Virgin Blue’s new Brisbane headquarters with the airline welcoming Australia’s fastest growing sandwich franchiseHealthy Habits on board as its official café and sandwich bar.

The franchise, which has 29 stores across Australia and is known for its smiley face logo, was given the nod after a lengthy tender process ruled out several major fast food and catering companies.

Healthy Habits founder and managing director Katherine Sampson said the new site at the Virgin Blue headquarters offered a lucrative business opportunity for one lucky franchisee and would be the start of a new relationship with the airline.

“Healthy Habits and Virgin Blue have similar brand values and attitudes on how business should be conducted and we’re looking forward to providing their staff with healthy and tasty food,” she said.

Glen Plummer, Virgin Blue Manager - Property, said they based their choice on Healthy Habits’ great reputation for healthy food.

“We really wanted a cafe that would promote healthy eating to our staff and we know we’ve found a great match with Healthy Habits,” he said.

“We chose Healthy Habits for its enthusiastic promotion of healthy eating and living. Our people want tasty and nutritious food options and of course, great coffee, and Healthy Habits will serve us up just that.”

Ms Samspon said the Virgin Blue precinct at Bowen Hills would see a massive increase in consumer traffic when all of Virgin Blue’s 1000 staff moved from their current headquarters in Fortitude Valley to the new site.   

“There is going to be hundreds of people stepping out for lunch each day so we’re really looking forward to the challenge,” she said.

“Add the demand from the new Brisbane City Council offices already established near Virgin Blue HQ, and the residential developments going up around the area, and you’ve got a lot of sandwiches to sell.

“The store will also operate as a bar on Friday nights so staff from Virgin Blue and surrounding businesses will have a place for a relaxing drink at the end of the week.”

Anyone interested in becoming the franchisee for Healthy Habits Virgin Blue can find out more information here.