Retail Food Group disputes $1.62m debt to Alicia Atkinson, partner of former RFG MD Tony Alford

EMBATTLED Retail Food Group is denying they owe a whopping $1.62m to a company linked to its major shareholder.

Alicia Atkinson pad $5.5 million for this house at Curtis Road North Tamborine.

EMBATTLED Retail Food Group is battling a $1.62 million debt claim from a company run by the partner of its major shareholder and former managing director Tony Alford.

Alicia Atkinson’s company Exit 57 Investments went into liquidation on February 12 with more than $3 million in debts of its own, including $2.7 million to the Australian Taxation Office and $803,000 its sole director Ms Atkinson.

Michel's Patisserie comes under the RFG brand

Exit 57 once operated about 30 of RFG’s company-owned stores, but they had closed or sold to franchisees by 2016.

RFG is the sole debtor in Exit 57’s report of its affairs, listing it as owing $1.62 million — however RFG denies there is a debt.

The amount does not appear in RFG’s Annual Report for 2016-17, nor that of the previous year.

Retail Food Group major shareholder Tony Alford was formerly managing director. Photo: Steve Holland

Mr Alford resigned from the RFG board on July 3 last year, and Ms Atkinson, who worked as a director of RFG’s bakery and cafe divisions, left the same year.

An RFG spokeswoman said “RFG has not received any notice or claim in respect of the debt you refer to, and consequently, would dispute it.”

‘THOUSANDS’ IN DEBT THANKS TO RFG

“In the past, RFG had entered into commercial arrangements with multi-site operators for the management from time to time of corporate outlets. Exit 57 Investments Pty Ltd was one of those managers, however, RFG’s relationship with it ceased in FY16.”

Brumby’s Bakery is part of RFG. Pic Annette Dew

Exit 57 voluntarily appointed liquidator Jason Bettles of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants on February 12.

ASIC records show Ms Atkinson is a current director of more than 40 companies.

She is herself a major shareholder in RFG, with the latest Annual Report of the company stating she held a 0.4 per cent stake in the company.

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Mr Alford owns and 11.1 per cent stake in his name and more shares in company names, including 3.8 per cent by Alfords Holdings (Queensland) — of which Ms Atkinson is a previous director.

Ms Atkinson, 48, made headlines in 2016 after paying a Mt Tamborine record $5.5 million on a glamorous `Great Gatsby’ mansion.

The opulent white home at Curtis Rd, complete with chapel and caretaker’s residence, sits on a private 2ha site and has an indoor pool, theatre, music room, marble pillars and floors, gold trimmings in a formal dining room, and a tennis court.

The home at Curtis Road North Tamborine.

The home listed on her business records is at Sanctuary Cove.

Mr Bettles said he’d been appointed administrator on February 12.

“It’s very early in this liquidation for us so we’re still gathering information and documents for review,” he said.