Hog’s Breath in talks to straighten out curly situation

Curly fries could soon be back on the menu in Adelaide with steakhouse chain Hog’s Breath saying talks to reopen its Glenelg and Holden Hill restaurants are “going very well”.

Hog's Australia's Steakhouse in Glenelg and Holden Hill may reopen. Photo: Tait Schmaal

Slow-cooked prime ribs with curly fries could soon be back on the menu in Adelaide with steakhouse chain Hog’s Breath saying talks to reopen its Glenelg and Holden Hill restaurants are “going very well”.

Hog’s CEO Ross Worth said the company is in negotiations with interested franchisees and he hoped to fast-track the reopening of the diners.

“The brand has a good relationship with both landlords and discussions are going very well. At this point the goal is to retain both existing sites,” Mr Worth said.

Hog's Breath steakhouse in Holden Hill. Photo: Morgan Sette

Hog’s Breath head office said a “senior national support office team member” will be flying into Adelaide early next week to meet with the managers of the two restaurants and potential new franchisees.

Mr Worth said Hog’s Breath is “speaking with the staff to assure them we’re doing all that we can to get them working again as soon as possible,” and added “we’ve spoken to both of the restaurant managers who are in communication with the staff at the restaurants to answer their questions as best they can.”

Hog's CEO Ross Worth. Photo: Annette Dew

A Hog’s Breath Holden Hill staffer told The Advertiser that she and most of the other staff had been contacted and they also have set up an online group chat to discuss the ongoing situation.

But one Hog’s Breath staffer arrived in uniform for work at the Holden Hill restaurant this morning, still unaware of the closure, and a chef noted on the Hog’s Breath Holden Hill Facebook page that he has not been contacted, writing: “Restaurant managers talking to crew? No their (sic) not.”

A liquidation notice has been placed on the front door of Hog's Breath steakhouse in Holden Hill. Photo: Morgan Sette

Mr Worth noted that any outstanding pay or superannuation contributions owed to staff would remain the responsibility of the insolvent former franchisee and is in the hands of liquidators Heard Phillips.

“Our focus is on reopening Glenelg and Holden Hill,” Mr Worth said.

“While Hog’s Australia’s Steakhouse ensures all of its locations are given the tools to succeed, along with business advice and marketing support, they are independently owned businesses and are susceptible to all of the challenges faced by business owners,” Mr Worth noted.

Signage at the Hog's Breath Cafe, Glenelg. Photo: Tait Schmaal

“With smaller margins and higher labour costs, owning a restaurant in current times is a high-risk business.

“You don’t have to look far to read reports of restaurant closures and despite our 30-year history, Hog’s is not immune to the challenges our industry faces.

“Spending money on dining out is highly discretionary, so any downturn in the economy impacts significantly on restaurant earnings.

Hog’s Australia’s Steakhouse opened its Glenelg restaurant May 1, 1996, and its Holden Hill diner July 26, 1997. The national chain has 70 restaurants across Australia.