Top Queensland chef Shannon Kellam’s BCN Events Group bakery and cafe empire has collapsed.
After serving up delicacies and offering culinary education across Brisbane for years, it entered voluntary liquidation on Tuesday, affecting seven beloved businesses and dozens of staff.
Advisory and restructuring firm McGrathNicol partners Mark Holland, Jamie Harris and Anthony Connelly have been appointed as liquidators.
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The group’s successful cafés, Mica Express in Brisbane CBD and Mica Brasserie in Newstead, the well-known King St Bakery in Bowen Hills, and The Kneadery in Newstead, were all affected by the collapse and “will remain closed,” Holland said in a statement.
The Mica airport-branch has survived the collapse, as it operates under licence from BCN Events Group.
Kellam’s French restaurant Montrachet in Bowen Hills is owned by a separate legal entity, and has therefore also escaped liquidation — liquidators understand that it will remain open and continue to operate as usual.
But cooking school and events business Lumiere Culinary Studio in Newstead, was affected by the liquidation, and will also close down.
The affected businesses ceased trading on Tuesday, and 90 staff have been impacted by the collapse, McGrathNicol confirmed.
“Orders will also not be able to be fulfilled or processed for Click Chef,” posts on the Mica and Lumiere Culinary Studio Facebook pages said.
The liquidators are looking for new owners for the businesses, or at least parts of the businesses.
“Liquidators are urgently exploring all options for the group,” McGrathNicol said.
Holland called the collapse “a casualty of the headwinds facing the hospitality industry”.
“We regret to advise there will be a disruption to the group’s ongoing operations
“We intend to work with staff, customers and suppliers during this difficult time”.