Grilld is an Australian multinational chain of casual dining restaurants that specialises in healthy burgers. Founded by Simon Crowe in 2004 in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Grill’d now employs over 4500 people across 150 locations, with its headquarters in Richmond, Melbourne. While the chain may be a little stressful, it’s definitely healthier than McDonald’s. If you’re looking for an alternative to McDonald’s, consider the many health benefits of Grill’d.
Grill’d is a chain restaurant
While many fast-food chains are aiming for a healthier menu, Grill’d is going beyond that. The chain has converted two of its restaurants to have a completely plant-based menu. These restaurants will feature a variety of plant-based burgers, including the Impossible Burger pattie. Another new addition to the Grill’d menu is the Plantein “chicken” sandwich and Impossible “loaded” chips.
The fast-casual chain has already taken aim at its competitors by posting paparazzi pictures of the Colonel eating chicken. While the chain has targeted McDonald’s and other fast-casual chains before, it’s not the first time it has done so. The company is planning to launch at least three new locations in the next few months, including one in the CBD. While the new concept has a strong focus on burgers, there are also plans to introduce salads and drinks, and Crowe hopes that this approach will work in Bali.
A recent charity initiative by the chain saw it team up with not-for-profit environmental organisation Greenfleet. The goal is to plant 10 forests by 2022. For each Relish Member who buys a burger from the chain and every new member who joins, Grill’d will donate $2. The result? A total of $236,302 to Vinnies Bushfire Relief. As part of its ongoing commitment to social responsibility, Grill’d began an Instagram campaign where 10c was donated to Vinnies Bushfire relief.
It specialises in healthy burgers
The company has a plethora of options for a healthy burger, including a plant-based one. Its recipe for a healthy fried chicken was recently featured in B&T Magazine. Recently, Grill’d teamed up with renowned chef Heston Blumenthal to create a plant-based burger. In an article published on 12 May 2021, B&T said: “The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: Healthy Burgers – How to Enjoy Them
The burgers are made to order on a flame grill, so customers can watch them being made. This makes the food much healthier than one made on a hotplate. In fact, Grill’d has launched a membership scheme called the Relish program, which allows customers to receive a free burger after eight visits. This initiative will also benefit the Society of St Vincent de Paul, otherwise known as Vinnies. The company recently launched an Instagram campaign to help Vinnies aid bushfire victims. This is just one of the many ways that Grill’d is trying to make a difference to the food industry.
The new burger restaurant in Canberra opens in June, making it the second location for the company. Its first restaurant opened earlier this year in Belconnen. The company’s managing director, Simon Crowe, said the business had grown rapidly, opening up 43 stores across Australia. The business’s success has largely been due to Crowe’s passion for creating healthy burgers and addressing the lack of healthy burgers in the market.
One way to make the perfect healthy burger is by using vegetables. Veggies are lower in calories, and have high fibre content. Using unprocessed fillings is much healthier than eating processed meat or fried food. Sadly, the majority of burgers served by Grilld contain a high amount of added sugar, which makes it difficult to eat them healthily. The company’s new range of burgers also include double cheeseburgers.
It is a stressful place to work
The company’s management has been criticized for being uncaring and intolerant of employees’ concerns. In 2015, a study by students affiliated with the ANU College of Law found that 95 per cent of Grilld employees complained of inadequate training. They were not given adequate time to complete the training program, and management repeatedly declined to speak with them or answer their questions about the traineeship. The study also found that management systematically discriminates against employees based on their race, nationality, and gender.
Many current employees of the company share their experiences of working for the company. In an interview conducted last August, respondents detailed their working conditions. They included the names of shifts, restaurants, and law professors. Some of the workers were not aware of the traineeship program, which can take up to two years. In November, the founder of Grill’d sent an urgent email to staff, informing them of this fact.
Underpayment has also been an issue at Grilld, with the company failing to pay its workers a living wage. Employees were underpaid by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet, the underpayments were never reported to the Fair Work Ombudsman. As a result, employees are unhappy and are unlikely to return to the company. Grill’d has been criticised for underpayment, but it is important to remember that workers have rights, and the company should respect them.
It is better for you than McDonald’s
The question is whether Grilld is healthier than McDonald’s, which is notoriously bad for your health. A recent study by Deakin University looked at Australia’s leading fast-food chains and their commitment to nutrition and combating obesity. Grilld ranked second last behind Domino’s Pizza and KFC, while McDonald’s, Subway and Domino’s failed to meet the top performance score. A more detailed look at the burger’s nutrition shows it’s worse for you than McDonald’s – and that may be because of the serving size.
Grilled’s chicken patties are less than half the calories of McDonald’s and contain zero grams of sugar. The spicy buffalo dipping sauce contains cayenne pepper, while the tangy barbeque sauce has nine grams of sugar. And the Grilled Sweet Chilli Chicken and Egg McMuffin are far better for you – each burger is only two grams of sugar. Both can be served with either Canadian bacon or butter.
A wholemeal bun, 100g extra-lean beef mince, and reduced-fat cheese make a tasty and healthy burger. A burger with this combo contains 1700 calories and 11 grams of fat, compared to 420 calories in McDonald’s. A chicken breast without the skin is a healthier option, but it still has more sodium. For those concerned about the sodium content of McDonald’s, a no-meat burger might be the best option.
A McDonald’s salad contains just 133kcal, but a KFC Original Recipe Ricebox contains 20g of protein and plenty of B vitamins. KFC Krushems are a great choice for recovery after exercise. Neither McDonald’s Signature Collection Classic burger is good for you, either. They are both high in fat and calories, but are still healthier than McDonald’s. This is an easy comparison and you can decide which is healthier for you.
