Banjo’s Bakery, a staple of the Tasmanian food landscape, has announced ambitious plans to double its store network from 51 to 100 outlets by 2028.

The privately held, family-run business will focus its expansion along Australia’s east coast, targeting inner suburban and rural regions, particularly in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

Founded in Launceston in 1984 by Mark Saxby, Banjo’s has maintained a strong presence in Tasmania, where 29 of its outlets are located.

The remainder are spread across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. While only six stores are company-operated, the remainder are franchised.

According to acting CEO Bradley Saxby, the strategy behind this expansion is driven by a mix of positive store performance, rising demand, and strong population growth in key regions.

“We’re seeing really strong growth in Queensland. We have a well-established brand up there now. It’s great to get a concentration of stores in one spot to really grow your brand awareness. It’s a growing population in those areas and it suits our brand,” Bradley told Business News Australia.

Banjo’s differentiates itself from other brands by offering a sit-down café experience and baking onsite daily—a model Bradley says creates a competitive advantage.

“The real point of difference between us and a lot of other brands out there in the market is that we bake on site every single day. Each of our 51 outlets is essentially a manufacturing plant…the bakers get up and start working at 2am every morning and bake our products fresh every single day,” he said.

The expansion strategy also builds on innovations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including drive-thru locations. Currently, 11 stores feature drive-thru service, with three more expected by year’s end.

“When we overcame those times, we thought we can really take on anything. So, for the last five years, I’d say we’ve been really pushing this national growth and looking at all states now,” Bradley said.

Banjo’s expects to complete six new stores by the end of 2025, with nine more already scheduled for 2026.