Sunday, December 22, 2024

Award-winning chef’s Brisbane food empire collapses

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A string of Brisbane bakeries and other hospitality venues run by award-winning chef Shannon Kellam have shut down, with the company behind them collapsing and 90 staff losing their jobs.

Kellam’s BCN Events Group, which runs a number of hospitality businesses including King Street Bakery and Mica Patteserie, called in Mark Holland, Jamie Harris and Anthony Connelly from McGrathNicol Restructuring as liquidators this morning.

“At this preliminary stage, BCN Events appears to be a casualty of the headwinds facing the hospitality industry,” Holland said.

King Street Bakery and Mica are among the venues to close following BCN Events Group’s collapse. (Instagram/King Street Bakery/Mica)

“We are currently undertaking an urgent appraisal to consider options available.

“In the meantime, we regret to advise there will be a disruption to the group’s ongoing operations and well-known Mica (Newstead & CBD) and King Street Bakery establishments will remain closed.”

A spokesperson confirmed to 9news.com.au that the group employed 90 staff.

King Street Bakery produce.
King Street Bakery opened in 2017. (King Street Bakery)

“We intend to work with staff, customers and suppliers during this difficult time,” Holland said.

Kellam also runs Brisbane’s multi-award-winning French restaurant Montrachet, which remains open for business.

BCN’s liquidation is just the latest in a long line of restaurants and other hospitality businesses that have collapsed in the face of financial difficulties since the pandemic.

The last two weeks alone have seen the demise of two of Sydney’s highest-profile restaurants, with Tetsuya’s and Lucky Kwong, run by celebrity chefs Tetsuya Wakuda and Kylie Kwong respectively, announcing their plans to shut.
“Everyone is feeling it. I have never seen the restaurant industry in such tough times as it is right now,” Kwong said last week.

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