Motto Motto Loyal Diners Become Successful Franchisees in Townsville
One of our most exciting franchisor partners, Motto Motto brings restaurant-quality Japanese dining into a modern, fast-casual setting. With more than 20 restaurants across Australia, the brand has built a loyal following for its fresh ingredients, signature ramen, and chef-led menus.
That journey reached a new milestone in 2024 with the opening of Motto Motto’s first regional franchise in Townsville, led by local family Leo and Mario Canapi
From Dining In to Buying In
Leo and Mario started as loyal Motto Motto diners in Brisbane. What began as a family tradition soon grew into a dream of owning their own restaurant. In 2024, they brought Motto Motto to Townsville’s Fairfield Central Shopping Centre, becoming the brand’s first regional franchise partners.
Record-breaking Results
The Townsville opening exceeded all expectations:
1,200 locals signed up as loyalty members before launch
$350,000 in first-month sales, one of the strongest franchise openings in Motto Motto’s history
30+ local jobs created from day one
$2.5M+ in first-year revenue
Queues for the $1 ramen launch stretched through the centre, and within a year, the restaurant had served more than 70,000 guests.
“The opening week showed just how hungry Townsville was for something fresh and exciting — especially Motto Motto’s signature ramen.”
Powered by Passion and Support
When the opportunity came to bring Motto Motto to Townsville, Leo and Mario saw more than just a business venture, they saw a way to bring something they genuinely loved to their own community.
One of the key reasons they chose Motto Motto was its operational model: a proven franchise system backed by best-in-class equipment and a streamlined supply chain designed to minimise complexity.
“Neither of us are trained chefs, and we don’t have hospitality backgrounds,” says Mario. “But Motto Motto’s systems are incredibly supportive. We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel — we just needed to follow the process, put in the work, and build the right team. Our focus is quality and service and the Motto Motto support team leads the rest.”
Today, Mario leads the business day to day, working closely with their team of 30 to deliver consistently high-quality food and guest service. The result: a thriving restaurant backed by local owners fully embedded in their community.
Growing Network, Bigger Ambitions
The Townsville success comes at a time of rapid expansion. Motto Motto has recently opened in Newmarket, with another franchise about to be granted. The brand now has 23 franchises operating or in design and development across Australia, signalling strong growth in both metro and regional markets.
Franchise System that Works
For DC Strategy, Townsville is more than a restaurant opening, it’s a clear validation of the franchise system we’ve worked with Motto Motto to design and refine. The Canapis’ journey shows that with the right partners and the right model, a franchise can succeed in new markets and deliver strong results from the very start.
“Townsville proves the Motto Motto franchise system delivers. The Canapis came in with passion, and the model gave them the structure to achieve exceptional results. For us, this is what franchising is about, empowering everyday people to build successful businesses with the confidence of a proven system behind them.”
Enquire Now
Motto Motto is welcoming enquiries from aspiring franchise partners across Australia.