Mr Potato Management owes $151,000 in tax and super, according to Fed Court document

Court documents have lifted the lid on how much tax is owed by a company behind a spud-themed fast-food franchise.

More than half of Mr Potato stores, founded by Tyson Finau and Jess Davis, have closed down.

Operators of fast-food franchisor Mr Potato are set to have the eyes picked out of their financial status at a Federal Court hearing early next month.

According to documents filed in the Federal Court of NSW, reveal the tax office has been chipping away at Mr Potato Group Management, solely directed by 2024 Miss Universe entrant Jess Davis, over a $151,000 tax and superannuation debt.

The ATO’s bid to wind that company up comes as companies behind two Mr Potato franchises - including the chain’s first ever store at Glenelg in Adelaide - are mashed into voluntary liquidation.

The franchisee companies had operated the stores for a little over a year each.

Mr Potato has been smashed in recent months by a sack of store closures and franchisee company liquidations, with former operators claiming Mr Potato was not the lucrative spud they thought it would be.

All the group’s stores in Queensland have been shut down - although the brand’s website reckons one is “coming soon” at Burleigh Heads.

Meanwhile, Davis and former NBL-playing husband Tyson Hoffman-Finau, have peeled away on a national food truck tour drumming up publicity for the chain.

The couple is also continuing to ask for investors in a resort named Oseni - on a remote Tongan island - which will apparently host “30 private, luxurious and eco-friendly villas” on the beach.

The couple plans to “build a seaplane wharf” to help ferry guests from mainland Tonga to ’Eua, landing on the sea “out the front of the resort”.

Jess Davis and Tyson Finau during Mr Potato's Australian Tour. Photo: Contributed

New crawler

With energy in the global spotlight, Queensland coal miner New Hope has commissioned a huge new machine to boost production at their New Acland mine.

The 135-tonne Caterpillar 993 loader has a bucket the size of an SUV and its arrival coincides with the arrival of the mine’s 300th full-time employee.

Dave O'Dwyer. Picture: Brett Lethbridge

New Acland Coal general manager Dave O’Dwyer (pictured) said the $6.6m bit of kit was its largest capex spend in more than a year and was purchased through Hastings Deering Toowoomba, which sourced and built the earthmoving machine.

“The deliberate decision to invest in and purchase goods and services supports supplier development, provides opportunities for local employment, and stimulates business growth,” he said.

Jack Wildermuth of the Queensland Bulls celebrates bringing up his century during the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval, on March 17, 2025. Photo: Mark Brake

On a good wicket

Queensland Big Bash and Bulls cricket all-rounder Jack Wildermuth’s two-year deal with the Brisbane Heat wasn’t his only recent career move, with the 31-year-old also lining up a post-cricket option in the commercial property market.

Wildermuth has joined Knight Frank Australia’s commercial property team as part of their student internship program, setting himself up for his next innings.

Dan Alpe of Travvia.

Jucy appointment

Brisbane-based Simon Birkenhead has just been announced as the new CEO of travel and tourism group Travvia, which operates the brightly-coloured Jucy campervans and lux-alternative Star in Australia and New Zealand.

Birkenhead – a previous CEO of Auckland-based HQ Travel Group – steps into the void left by NZ-based Jucy founder Dan Alpe, who will move into the role of executive director at the end of June.

Jucy made worldwide headlines during the pandemic when thieves stole dozens of its rental vehicles, and again afterwards when it went into receivership.

The brand was ultimately saved after its was bought out by UK investment fund Polar Capital.

Originally published as Mr Potato Management owes $151,000 in tax and super, according to Fed Court document