Top Qld chef’s food empire collapses

Liquidators have seized control of the food empire owned by the prominent Queensland chef behind popular restaurant Montrachet, with all venues to cease trading immediately.

King St Bakery in Bowen Hills is closed today after BCN Events Group went into liquidation. Picture: Liam Kidston

Liquidators have been called in on one of Brisbane’s biggest bakery empires owned by a top Queensland chef.

BCN Events Group, owned by award-winning cook Shannon Kellam of Brisbane dining institution Montrachet in Bowen Hills, was placed into voluntary liquidation on May 28.

The decision was made to wind down the group’s operations including cafe and patisserie Mica in Newstead, Mica Express in Brisbane’s CBD, King St Bakery in Bowen Hills, wholesale services provided by the Kneadery in Newstead and cooking school Lumiere.

Chef Shannon Kellam’s BCN Group has gone into liquidation.

Liquidators Mark Holland, Jamie Harris and Anthony Connelly have assumed control of the group, with all venues to cease trading immediately.

This morning at Mica Brasserie in Newstead, a sign posted on the door by the liquidators read “BCN Events appears to be a casualty of the headwinds facing the hospitality industry.”

“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.”

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

About 90 jobs are expected to be lost with the collapse of one of Brisbane's biggest bakey empires, with bakers, chefs and customer service staff all uncertain of their futures.

Liquidators say it is too early to know with certainty what will happen to their roles as it will depend on the outcome of the liquidation process and whether new owners are found for all or parts of the business.

Liquidators were also yet to determine exactly how much money was owed or to whom, but said they would be looking at all options to recoup funds or save the operation.

A letter posted on the door to Mica Brasserie in Newstead.

A gym goer who frequents the patisserie said it was a “shock” to see a normally bustling cafe closed.

“I’m very shocked, I used to come here all the time,” she said.

“It was a really good business, good food and coffee. It’s a really nice place to be.”

Not affected by the collapse are the recently launched Mica Express at the Brisbane Airport, and French fine dining institution Montrachet, with both continuing to trade as usual.

BCN had been struggling to survive after Covid complications were compounded by an electrical outage in the 2022 February floods, which wiped out about $150,000 in food stored in fridges at its wholesale bakery operation The Kneadery.

Mica Brasserie at Newstead, which will close as part of the liquidation.

Pastries, breads, baked goods and other stock were all destroyed after power was cut to the operation at the top of the Mercedes Benz building in Newstead, despite the business itself being high and dry.

The Kneadery supplied about 20 wholesale customers, as well as BCN eateries, Montrachet and Coles Local stores.

Mica Brasserie at Newstead closed on Wednesday morning. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Kellam told The Courier-Mail at the time he estimated it would cost him more than $200,000 and a brigade of 30 chefs to start again.

Still struggling to make up for the monstrous losses almost two years later, Mr Kellam launched at-home meal delivery service Click Chef in November last year.

The business was designed to use The Kneadery’s commercial kitchen and bring in an extra income stream as cost-of-living pressures affected trade at BCN’s other outlets.

Click Chef, at this stage doesn’t seem to be affected by the liquidation.