Popular Bondi Harvest food cafe brand placed in receivership with Lowe Lippmann

Famous for its “Aussie beach vibe”, financial stress, Covid and a lack of travellers have taken a toll on cafe and lifestyle brand Bondi Harvest. Here’s what that means for the The Depot.

Bondi’s hipster lifestyle cafe and recipe brand Bondi Harvest has been placed into voluntary receivership, a victim of Covid disruptions and lockdowns.

The popular “Aussie beach vibe” brand, which included cookbooks, a TV series, a YouTube recipe channel and a Californian cafe run by chef and surfer Guy Turland, had Melbourne liquidators put in control last week.

Insolvency notices published by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission reported that Lowe Lippmann Chartered Accountants were appointed liquidators of the firm, which has been operating since 2013.

Mr Turland has built an international reputation selling a healthy Bondi food vibe around the world, and has huge following on social media as well as being involved in a TV series on SBS.

He’s also involved in North Bondi’s newly reopened The Depot cafe, which he had originally been founded 15 years ago with his mother Heather and is promoted as being “at the heart of Bondi’s barefoot culture”.

Chef Guy Turland of Bondi Harvest.

Mr Turland said it was a voluntary liquidation, as “on the back of the last four years we thought it was the responsible thing to do”.

“It’s no secret the last 4 years have been tough, especially on small business,” he said.

Chef Guy Turland pictured at his restaurant The Depot at Bondi, which is not affected by the closure of Bondi Harvest. Picture: Toby Zerna

“Financial stress, lack of travel and Covid has taken its toll. Going into administration early means all creditors will be looked after.”
Mr Turland said The Depot cafe was completely separate and winding up Bondi Harvest would not affect it, and he planned to redirect his focus towards “personal growth, recipes and food”.

Asked what his message was for the many loyal foodie followers, he said “you’ll get more of me and less of Bondi Harvest”.

The Australian Retailers Association has warned the government that many small businesses are being “pushed to the brink” in the current climate.

“Exacerbated by overseas and student workers missing from our economy, staff shortages along with rising business costs related to leasing, fuel, energy and supply chains, is pushing many small businesses to the brink,” chief executive Paul Zahra said.

“We need to see some immediate practical solutions from government, otherwise this situation will only deteriorate.”

Statistics show that of the companies entering external receivership in Australia in the 2020/21 financial year, accommodation and food services were the third most impacted sector, following construction and business and personal services.

Across all sectors in Australia ASIC recorded 3917 liquidations or administration appointments. The biggest number of collapses was in NSW at 1536.

Experts have warned global corporate insolvencies are expected to increase by 33 per cent this year, as government support during Covid is slowly withdrawn.