Carls Jr. burger chain enters voluntary administration

Twenty Carls Jr. restaurants will immediately close, including in regional Victoria, as the company enters voluntary administration.

Burger chain Carls Jr entered voluntary administration on Monday. Picture: File

A popular burger chain with two-dozen outlets across Australia has entered voluntary administration.

Twenty Carls Jr. venues will immediately close, with administrators appointed to owner CJ’s Group on Monday.

Victorian locations affected include Ballarat, Bendigo, and Shepparton.

A sign on the door of Ballarat’s Creswick Rd restaurant said it would be closed all day Monday due to “unforeseen circumstance[s]”.

A Carl's Jr burger.

Four stores will remain open, reportedly Melton, Bringelly, Dandenong, and Tarneit.

KPMG Australia’s restructuring services partner David Hardy said the initial focus was “stabilising” operations of the group.

“We will be conducting an immediate sale process of the existing store network and operations,” he said.

“We will be working with all stakeholders, including employees, suppliers and landlords, to maximise the outcome for all parties.”

Stakeholders are expected to be contacted within days, while a creditors meeting has been scheduled for August 7.

The first Australian Carls Jr. restaurant opened in Bateau Bay, NSW.

Ballarat’s store was the fourth in Victoria.