Meet: Amelia

BurgerFuel Store: BurgerFuel Timaru

When did you become a store owner?
We became the proud owners of BurgerFuel Timaru in May 2026.

Tell us a bit about you and your story, what’s yourbackground, where did you grow up etc?
We are Amelia and Diego, a young family passionate about people, community,tasty shakes and of course, great burgers. Diego originally grew up in Chileand made the move to New Zealand in 2014. Coincidentally, 2014 was also theyear I started my journey with BurgerFuel helping to open the Bush innBurgerFuel, first for the South Island. What started as a job quickly becamemuch more than that, it became a second family and a place where I grew bothpersonally and professionally.

Over the years, BurgerFuel has played a huge role in ourlives. It has been the place where we built lifelong friendships, developedvaluable skills, and discovered a genuine passion for hospitality andleadership. After taking a break from the brand for nearly two years to focuson family and new opportunities, the chance to return as franchise owners feltlike coming home.

Today, we have two young children who have grown up aroundBurgerFuel. For them, BurgerFuel has always been a home away from home, a safe,welcoming environment filled with friendly faces and positive memories. It hasbeen incredibly special to watch them become part of the BurgerFuel journey aswell.

What drew you to the brand and made you want to be a partof the BurgerFuel family?
The culture was what drew us in from the beginning. BurgerFuel has alwaysbeen more than just burgers; it’s about people, community, creativity, andhaving fun while delivering an exceptional experience. Throughout my years withthe brand, I experienced firsthand how supportive and passionate the BurgerFuelfamily is, and that sense of belonging never left.

When the opportunity arose to become franchise owners, itfelt like the perfect chance to combine our passion for the brand with ourdream of owning a family business. We wanted to create the same positiveenvironment for our staff and customers that inspired us over the years.

What do you love about BurgerFuel?
We love that BurgerFuel isn’t afraid to be different. From the unique brand personality to the quality ingredients and strong focus on customer experience, there’s always something that stands out. Most of all, we love the people. The relationships built between staff, customers and support teams create a culture that is hard to find elsewhere.

Is there anything you can tell us about your local community and how important it is to be a part of for you as a BurgerFuel franchisee?
Timaru has a strong sense of community and genuine small-town pride. Peoplesupport local businesses and value personal connections, which makes it afantastic place to operate a family business. Being involved in the localcommunity is incredibly important to us because we want BurgerFuel Timaru to bemore than just somewhere people grab dinner. We want it to be a place wherepeople feel welcomed, valued, and connected.

As local business owners, we look forward to supportingschools, sports teams, community groups, and local events whenever we can.

Other than your store, what’s your favourite place to go in your community?
Caroline Bay is one of our favourite spots in the day, but I love to takemy kids to see the Little Blue penguins by the port after a late-night rush.It’s a beautiful place to spend time with the kids, enjoy the outdoors, andappreciate everything Timaru has to offer.

What’s your favourite BurgerFuel burger?
The Bacon Backfire is hard to beat. Swap the brie for cheddar and its aperfect burger. Add a side of kumara fries and its spot on.

What is your best BurgerFuel hack?
Oh tom sauce and aioli mixed together with our spud fries. Muah

Do you own a BurgerFuel machine? If so, what is it?
Not yet, dreams are free right?!

Random fact about yourself?
Diego moved halfway around the world from Chile to New Zealand in 2014, andyears later we ended up owning a BurgerFuel together. Between raising two kids,running a restaurant, and juggling family life, we’ve learned that teamworkreally does make the dream work.