Seasonal Garden Cafe’s Silvia Hart defending $100,000 debt claim from AMJ Produce for alleged unpaid fruit and vegetable bill

The owner of a popular Hahndorf eatery is accused of owing $100,000 for an unpaid fruit and vegetable bill.

Seasonal garden Cafe owner Silvia Hart is disputing she owes $100,000 for unpaid fruit and vegetables. Picture: Sam Wundke

THE owner of a popular cafe franchise is being sued for allegedly failing to pay a $100,000 fruit and vegetable bill.

Seasonal Garden Cafe’s Silvia Hart, who operates outlets at Hahndorf and Norwood, is expected to front the Adelaide Magistrates Court tomorrow, defending a claim brought by Pooraka-based wholesaler AMJ Produce.

Ms Hart told The Advertiser she did not dispute she owed AMJ Produce money but said she did dispute the amount the company was claiming is unpaid.

She said she would also be requesting, at a directions hearing, that AMJ provide signed delivery dockets to prove that items charged were delivered to her businesses.

“They are threatening to wind me up if I don’t pay them,” she said. “All I’m saying is that I want to see the signed delivery dockets and compare them to a roster (of staff).”

Ms Hart said a former employee changed fruit and vegetable supplier to AMJ Produce and that costs had increased as a result.

AMJ Produce’s director Margy Abbot declined to comment on the court claim.

Ms Hart, who was recognised by Primary Industries and Resources SA as a Food Ambassador for her sustainable ethos, expanded her business to include another Hanhdorf outlet and branches in Stirling and Norwood.

She sold the Stirling branch to her daughter Magdalena Hart last August and in July put the Norwood outlet on the market less than a year after it opened in September 2017, citing family reasons for her decision to sell the business.

The Parade business is under contract but Ms Hart, who declined to comment on the potential new owner, said it would continue to trade as a Seasonal Garden Cafe under any new deal.

The business’ latest advertised sale price via vendor Raine & Horne was $87,000, compared with $177,000 when the business first went to market.

AMJ Produce’s director Margy Abbot declined to comment on the court claim.