Jamie Oliver’s Australian restaurant group has collapsed into voluntary administration, weeks after it was revealed the celebrity chef’s British hospitality company is $126 million in debt.
BDO partners Andrew Sallway, Andrew Fielding and James White were appointed administrators of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group (Australia) Pty Ltd on Monday.
The company operated six Jamie’s Italian branded restaurants across Australia, after Oliver purchased the brand back from collapsed former operator Keystone Hospitality Group in November 2016.
In light of the administration, the Canberra Jamie’s Italian site was shut immediately yesterday, Business Insider reports. The remaining sites in Sydney, Parramatta, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide have been purchased by Hallmark Group, the publication reports.
In February, it emerged that Oliver’s UK hospitality operation was facing significant debt challenges, owing around $126 million to a range of parties, including $3.9 million to staff and close to $73 million to suppliers.