Sunshine Coast’s La Maison du Patissier six-figure debt revealed

The initial debt figures owed by a popular French cafe which abruptly announced its shock closure earlier this month have been revealed.

La Maison du Patissier. Photo Lachie Millard

The initial debt figures owed by a popular French cafe that abruptly announced its shock closure earlier this month have been revealed.

The company behind the cafe La Maison du Patissier, ACJM Pty Ltd, was placed into liquidation earlier this month, appointing Clifford Sanderson to complete the company’s winding up.

According to documents published to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission the company owes a total of about $258,383 in debts.

It is estimated about $20,000 is owed to priority creditors who are either former employees or those owed a super guarantee charge by the company.

The company has realisable value of $45,000, according to the ASIC documents.

The documents also state a debt of about $29,442 is owed to the Australian Taxation Office, with an estimated $145,044 owed to Westpac.

La Maison du Patissier has been a firm favourite since it first opened in Cooroy before moving to Meridan Plains.

The cafe was established by French couple Eric and Francoise Pernoud before it welcomed new owners, Andrew Ackerman and Jade Le Moeligou earlier this year.

Mr Pernoud is listed in the latest ASIC document as another creditor of the company, owed about $39,991.

ASIC documents list Mr Ackerman and Ms Le Moeligou as the current directors of AJCM Group Pty Ltd.

In a social media post, the directors stated the business was unable to keep operating after “a very difficult situation” had forced them to close down.

“Unfortunately we have to let you know some bad news, we have had to shut the shop effective immediately,” the post stated.

“We have been put in a very difficult situation which we are unable to disclose any information about, but has ultimately forced us into liquidation.

“We would like to thank everyone who has supported the business through the years and apologise to those we have let down. We didn’t want it to be this way but can’t fix the damage that has been done.”

Ms Le Moeligou previously declined to comment when contacted for comment by this publication.