Speaking in a video posted to Instagram, the founder of Austin’s Dad – still known only as Will – said he eventually wanted to employ “hundreds and thousands” of men aged between 18 and 25 and “give them big opportunities”.
The clip also reveals that influencer Matt Binge, founder of Food Review Club, and Apprentice contestant turned right-wing influencer Tom Skinner will promote the brand alongside Wallace.
A policy of exclusively employing men aged between 18 and 25 could potentially raise issues under the Equality Act 2010, under which both sex and age are protected characteristics.
The legislation does allow organisations to take proportionate positive action to help people who share a protected characteristic where they reasonably believe that group suffers a particular disadvantage, has different needs or is disproportionately underrepresented.
However, those provisions do not generally allow an employer to operate a blanket recruitment policy excluding candidates because of their sex or age.
Will also doubled down on his claim that Austin’s Dad would sell “whole, great food” for between £5 and £8 per portion and give 80% of its profits to employees.
He also said the concept would sell fried chicken and burgers alongside pizza.
According to a recruitment ad posted on social media last month, Austin’s Dad will launch its debut site in the Lincolnshire town of Stamford.