Triple the Love

BurgerFuel. Not only a great place to grab a burger for any occasion but also a place to find love. Who knew? This month, we celebrate the couples that fell in love, the mates that can’t be separated and anyone that sparked their story at BurgerFuel. 

‍Paige + Jackson

Love found on the shop floor.

So where did it all begin? 

Jackson and I first meet in 2019, Jackson came along to my Grandma’s funeral to support his boss (my uncle) who owns BF Parnell & PT Chev, shortly after I started working at Parnell and I found out Jackson had a crush on me since that day! We started dating not long after and as they say the rest is history. We have now been together almost 4 years and we have 2 baby girls, a 21 month and a 4 month old. I started working for BF in 2016 after my uncle started working there, it was my first proper job and I continued working there until we had our first daughter in 2021 and even though we no longer work with BF we are often still popping in for a visit or out with the crew having some fun!   

What's your idea of a perfect date night? 

As parents now of 2 under 2 our favourite date night ritual is a cheeky takeaways, the mattress in the lounge and an early night watching movies.

What's are your favourite BurgerFuel go-to?

Jackson loves his Bacon BBQ Roadster with chipotle sauce and I am big fan of the Southern Fried Choppers.

‍Matt + Tomoko

BurgerFuel Head Office staff members, Matt and Tomoko, met in an American coffee shop, of all places, and from there love blossomed.

So where did it all begin? 

Matt and I met whilst working together during the BurgerFuel expansion to the USA, located in Indianapolis, IN. I was working full-time managing a Starbucks just around the corner of the newly remodelled car shop, turned BurgerFuel. The kiwis would use my cafe as a meet-up spot and became regulars of mine. Then, soon enough, I found myself working at BurgerFuel part time. Matt was one of the many kiwis who came over to help with the launch of this new brand. So, in truth, BurgerFuel quite literally brought us together.

We were just friends at the start. Matt would spend his mornings at the shop. I would make him his usual, a bacon gouda cheese sandwich and flat white. In the evenings, I would be on the fryer, while he worked across from me, on the grill. So it started as any good relationship would, we both had a lot in common and we spent a lot of time in and out of work together.

Fast-forward almost 5 1/2 years later, I'm living in New Zealand! He is still my best friend and we are now engaged, planning a wedding! And Ironically, we are both still working for BurgerFuel. Full circle. I am now working as the area manager for Winner Winner. An up and coming brand, under BurgerFuel Group, here in Auckland.

‍What's your idea of a perfect date night? 

Favourite date night? Well, it's probably not the most exciting thing. Chilling at home, cozied up, watching 'The Grand Tour' or the 'Pedal Show' on YouTube with our golden retriever, Morgan. Maybe add a board game or two and some delicious takeaways, and I'm in.

Now let's see how well you really know Matt. What's his favourite BurgerFuel go-to?

Easy.... It's called 'the Aickin', for those who know, you know. It's a ford freakout, with cheese, minus tomato

Nikki + Josh

Last but definitely not least, is a head office love story, that was just meant to be, Nikki and Josh.

So where did it all begin? 

100 years ago, in my early twenties, I was waitressing at a café that was under the BurgerFuel Head Office on Ponsonby Road. It was through that café that I got to know many of the BurgerFuel franchisees and HQ staff that are still in the business today. One day, a very (very) tall, dark, and handsome guy walked in and the BurgerFuel CEO introduced us. Josh was a stuntman and the CEO’s personal trainer at the time.

He was also an MMA fighter who BurgerFuel were sponsoring in chicken for his upcoming fight, so he had quite a few meetings with the marketing team in the café. He quickly became a café regular, making an appearance every Friday, ordering a Classic Breakfast with scrambled eggs, and a Lemongrass tea. I thought he was lovely (and a babe), but we were both in a relationship and it took nearly a year for the stars to align and one day he asked me out for dinner while I was clearing his table.

‍How are you and BurgerFuel connected now?

I started out as the brand manager and am now the head of brand and marketing, working with an amazing team and in a very collaborative and supportive environment. I love the brand and the people – we all get along and it’s like a family.

Josh’s story with BurgerFuel started in 2006 when he started giving the HQ staff training sessions at the boxing gym he worked at. That evolved into one of BurgerFuel’s cultural pillars, with him establishing ‘BurgerFuel Athletic Department’ (B.A.D.) in 2013, our in-house basement gym and fitness and wellbeing platform. He has created bespoke strength and conditioning training programmes for head office staff and Friends of the Fuel ever since, with quite a few hiatuses’ working on films as a stunt performer and actor.

What's your idea of a perfect date night? 

With two young boys, we have no social life to speak of, so date nights are few and far between. He’s just come off the back of 5 months working in Australia on a film, so my ideal date night is just hanging together after the kids have gone to bed with a wine (for me) and watching a movie. Sad.

And of course, the ultimate relationship test, what's your partner's favourite BurgerFuel go-to?

Easy, American Muscle Double, with salad.

How romantic.