MAFS TV star Katie Johnston’s company collapse revealed

A Queensland MAFS bride’s “social enterprise” restaurant group, owes workers unpaid super and racked up debts with loans for luxury cars, documents from the corporate watchdog have revealed.

Katie Johnston pictured after the restaurant was broken into in 2020. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

A Queensland MAFS bride’s “social enterprise” restaurant group, owes workers unpaid super and racked up debts with loans for luxury cars, documents from the corporate regulator have revealed.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents show the company Wild The Lifestyle Co Pty Ltd was placed into voluntary administration on June 2023, with Dane Hammond appointed liquidator.

The company, which was directed by Eumundi woman Katie Johnston, operated two EATS venues in Eumundi and Sunshine Plaza.

The company that previously operated EATS Eumundi collapsed owing nearly half a million dollars, including $150,000 in unpaid superannuation. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

Ms Johnston described EATS on Married at First Sight on Tuesday night as a “social enterprise group”.

“I’m the CEO of a social enterprise group of restaurants, we split our profits helping others who are really doing it tough and help them with emergency food and emergency housing,” Ms Johnston said

“I like to do things with heart and empathy, it doesn’t take much to help.”

The liquidator’s report to creditors, published to ASIC in September 2023, revealed the company Wild The Lifestyle Co Pty Ltd entered liquidation owing about $493,927.

The company’s total debt figure included $150,709 owed in unpaid superannuation entitlements, $190,980 owed to the Australian Taxation Office and $141,174 owed to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

The loans to Mercedes-Benz Financial Services were in relation to two cars, a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE300D estimated to be worth between $72,000 and $88,000 and a 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC200, according to the report.

Eumundi woman Katie Johnston has appeared on the new season of Married at First Sight.

Mr Hammond identified in the report the company may have also been trading while it was insolvent.

“My preliminary investigations indicate a suspected date of insolvency from around 30 June 2020,” Mr Hammond’s report stated.

“It appears the company’s non-priority trading debts may have increased around $150,000 to $180,000 from that time up to the date of my appointment.”

No action has been taken by ASIC against Ms Johnston, and Ms Johnston is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

According to the report the business, EATS Eumundi, was sold to the company, EATS Nambour Pty ltd, which Mr Hammond highlighted was also directed by Ms Johnston.

It is understood the Sunshine Plaza store ceased trading all together.

Various other EATS venues, which trade under separate companies, were not affected by the liquidation.

Ms Johnston said there was a repayment plan in place regarding the six-figure debt.

“The repayment plan is in place and being maintained. Covid ruined a lot of businesses and continues to ruin people’s lives as we struggle with cost of living and mass business closures,” Ms Johnston said.