Gladstone Hog’s Breath latest store to close for dwindling franchise
Gladstone’s restaurant is the latest victim of closure as the presence of Hogs Breath franchises dwindles, with only 34 stores remaining across the country. See the details.
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Gladstone’s Hogs Breath steakhouse is the latest to close its doors, as the presence of the once-great franchise dwindles across Australia.
While the Goondoon Street restaurant has been listed as ‘temporarily closed’, Hog’s Breath Cafe CEO Steven Spurgin has confirmed it closed on May 7 with no re-opening date in sight.
It is understood up to 10 staff were let go late on Sunday, May 7, effective immediately.
Customers complained there was no notice given and gift certificates that can only be used at the Gladstone restaurant are now useless.
Mr Spurgin said Hogs Breath was scouting for a new location and franchisee to relaunch the brand in the Port City.
“We are looking at other locations with the hope of reopening in the area, and also seeking out our next Gladstone Boss Hog, but in the meantime, we’d like to thank our loyal customers who have supported us over the years and we hope to see you soon,” he said.
The Gladstone restaurant opened in 2014 at the Palms Shopping Fair site and at the time of opening, employed 45 staff.
The venue had on display historic memorabilia that is iconic across Hog’s Breath restaurants, with images of Gladstone over the decades as well as iconic local pieces such as signs and speakers from the old Civic Cinema and vintage jerseys from local football clubs.
The original owner of the Gladstone franchise was Alex Staines, who sold it in 2017.
The directors of the company it traded under at the time of the closure were James Begg of Sydney and Bradley Bennetts of Gladstone.
Hog’s Breath Cafes have been dropping off all over the country in the past few years.
Two franchises in Tuggerah and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales closed last month and filed for liquidation.
The Mooloolaba cafe closed in November 2022, after celebrating its 30th anniversary earlier that year.
The Rockhampton venue, which opened in 1993, has now closed Mondays and Tuesdays, believed to be due to a lack of staff.
The franchise was founded in Airlie Beach 1989, followed by Mooloolaba as the second venue two years later.
By 2011, there were 69 franchises in Australia, three in New Zealand, two in Thailand and one in Singapore.
By 2017, it was reported there were more than 80 stores across Australia but this dropped to 65 two years later.
In the year 2019, a dozen stores ceased trading.
According to the company’s cafe location finder online, there are now just 34 stores, with the most in Queensland at 17.
It is understood franchisees pay up to $800,000 to set up a restaurant.
Former operators have reported some of the closures have been due to cost of living pressures, rising rent, wages, electricity and food costs, reduced customer interest, lack of staff and COVID-19 lockdowns.
Another commented in addition to a decrease in spending, customer eating habits had also changed with the arrival of food delivery services and meal kits.
Cost of living pressures, rising rent, reduced customer interest and an inability to find suitable staff further contributed to its downfall.
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