Who invented the Australian Chiko Roll?

Frank McEncroe invented the Australian Chiko Roll. A boilermaker and outdoor caterer from Bendigo, Victoria, he developed the snack after seeing Chinese chop-suey rolls sold at a sporting venue in 1950.

McEncroe wanted a larger, sturdier food that spectators could eat with one hand while standing at football matches and other outdoor events. His version used a thick egg-and-flour pastry and a filling based on cabbage and barley, with vegetables, seasonings and meat. It was designed to be more robust than the delicate spring rolls that inspired it.

The product first appeared at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Show in 1951. It was initially called the “Chicken Roll,” even though it contained no chicken; McEncroe later shortened the name to Chiko Roll. That misleading early name is one reason the snack is sometimes mistakenly associated with poultry.

Chiko Rolls became a major Australian takeaway food, especially in fish-and-chip shops. At their peak in the 1960s and 1970s, about 40 million were sold annually. The brand has been owned by Simplot Australia since 1995.