Staff lose jobs as Cuppa Community Cafes at four Gold Coast council-owned locations close

Staff and suppliers claim they are owed thousands of dollars after the shock closure of four cafes operating out of council sites.

Staff and suppliers claim they are owed thousands of dollars after the shock closure of four cafes operating out of City of Gold Coast sites.

Council was left scrambling after doors suddenly closed at the Cuppa Community Cafes at Broadbeach Library, Robina Library, Upper Coomera Community Centre and Pimpama Sports Hub.

A council spokesperson said they were only informed last week the contractor was closing the businesses, with the City organising temporary food and coffee services at the venues until more permanent arrangements could be finalised.

Cuppa Community Cafes operated under the Kidz Foodz Inc umbrella, with CEO Paul Morffew telling staff in an email just two days before closing that he would be appointing external liquidators to formally wind up the businesses.

“After a great deal of thought and with a very heavy heart, I have made the decision to close all Kidz Foodz café,” said Mr Morffew in the email, which was shared with the Bulletin.

“Following the closures, we will be appointing external liquidators to formally wind up the business. They will liaise directly with all staff regarding final payments, entitlements, and any other matters related to the closure.

“We expect this process to commence in approximately four weeks, and further details will be provided once confirmed. In the meantime, regular payroll will continue next week as usual.”

When contacted by the Bulletin, Mr Morffew said he had experienced ill health but otherwise made no comment as to why he closed the cafes.

A sign outside the Cuppa Community Cafe in Robina informing customers of its closure.

The online footprint of the business was wiped by Monday, but had stated that Kidz Foodz Inc provided student-run cafes under the guidance of expert trainers and chefs and was a community work skills initiative, partially funded by the Queensland Government through its Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.

Mr Morffew’s LinkedIn profile showed he was also CEO of iBuild building and construction consultancy, CEO of the Icon Training Academy and Icon Cookery School, which operate out of The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre. Calls to these businesses were unanswered.

Mr Morffew was previously director of TLC Hospitality, which operated the Bavarian Haus Restaurant in Surfers Paradise and an adjacent coffee shop, but was forced to appoint liquidators in 2023, with TLC owing unsecured creditors about $800,000 including amounts to the Australian Taxation Office and suppliers.

Kidz Foodz employees, who did not want to be identified, said they were devastated by the sudden cafe closures and loss of their jobs, saying they had not been paid superannuation since September 2024.

Coffee supplier Dan Norris. Picture: Annette Dew.

Coffee supplier Dan Norris, who owns East Coast Roasters, said he was owed $70,000 by Kidz Foodz and had been told just two weeks before he closed the cafes there was “light at the end of the tunnel” and his invoices would be paid in full.

Ironically, Mr Norris made headlines last week as he detailed the fallout after he left Black Hops Brewery, a business he co-owned and founded but which was liquidated after his departure.

He said despite the reassurances he was given by Kidz Foodz, including an email detailing his repayment plan and a promise to pay all future invoices in advance, he did not know the cafes had been closed until he turned up at one of the sites.

Mr Norris said he was later sent an email by Mr Morffew which said he was ‘unable to confirm what the final financial wash-up will be’.

“We supplied them with coffee, milk, cups, everything,” said Mr Norris.

“I was told they were slow at paying but they always paid eventually and that was my experience until a couple of months ago. Now they owe us $70,000 across the four sites.

“I’m an idiot, but when it’s an account that is leasing a government site you just assume they are solid. Unfortunately, if we don’t get that $70k back, I don’t know if we’ll survive.”