AN IRISH chip shop chain has opened its third restaurant in the north, creating 12 jobs.
Chipmongers, a franchise owned by retail and wholesale giant Musgrave, is now open on the Ballymoney Road in Ballymena following a £90,000 investment. It is the third to open in Northern Ireland on top of existing franchises in Lisburn and Belfast.
Entrepreneurial couple Gareth Montgomery (39) from Ballymena and Katrina Fox (40), originally from Birmingham are behind the new venture and believe they are bringing something different to the area. The pair had been been on the lookout for a business to invest in and after reviewing the Chipmongers business plan, they realised this was what they had been looking for.
“We were immediately struck by the logo and the colours used in the branding and when we chatted the opportunity over with the Chipmongers team, we realised the potential. But it was when we tasted the food that our minds were made up," Mr Montgomery said.
“I run Patton’s Bar in Cloughmills, I went to Dunclug Secondary School, now Dunclug College, and I managed Ballymena United Reserves for a season, so I know what tastes are locally and I think the time is right for a fresh, modern twist on a traditional favourite," he added.
