Max Brenner closing 20 out of 37 stores, despite saying it would be business as usual just days ago
JUST days ago, Max Brenner said it would be “business as usual” after it was plunged into financial turmoil. Today, it’s clear that’s not the case.
WHEN luxury chocolatier Max Brenner announced its financial collapse just days ago, the chain said it would still be “business as usual”.
But, today waffle and hot chocolate enthusiasts may have to go elsewhere to satisfy their sweet tooth because 20 of the company’s 37 Aussie stores are closing — despite the earlier claims.
Staff at the 20 locations will be made redundant as administrators try to sell or recapitalise the business and keep its remaining stores trading.
“The decision to close stores is always regrettable but in this case we were left with no choice following a store-by-store review of Max Brenner operations,” administrator Barry Kogan said in a statement.
Nine stores will remain open in NSW, four in Victoria, three in Queensland and one in the ACT.
The company is pulling out of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory entirely.
Max Brenner Australia cited “escalating costs and tighter retail trade” as the reasons for entering voluntary administration earlier in the week.
And as its Israeli parent company now says it is looking for a new franchisee to keep the Max Brenner brand alive in Australia, the chocolate chain’s former staff have spoken out about “toxic” working conditions and missed superannuation payments.
“All they cared about was how to make their pockets and egos bigger,” one former staff member wrote on Facebook, claiming the company had withheld her superannuation payments.
A major overhaul of the Max Brenner head office in Alexandria, Sydney was blamed for the company not paying staff superannuation for the last six months of 2016.
In a letter sent to staff in February 2017 and seen by Fairfax, the company said the multimillion-dollar renovations were “a major landmark” that “prepares us for the growth that lies ahead”.
“However, as a result of these investments, we are currently refinancing several areas of the business,” it read. “This process is unfortunately taking longer than originally planned and is having a temporary effect on cash flow.”
Max Brenner was founded in 1996 in Ra’anana, Israel by Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner who combined their names for the brand moniker.
In its early days, it was a small shop selling handmade chocolates.
In Australia, the chain — known for its fondue, crepes, milkshakes, waffles and hot chocolate — is owned and run by husband and wife team Tom and Lilly Haikin, who opened the first cafe in Sydney’s Paddington in 1999.
The pair, who made BRW’s Young Rich list in 2013 with a fortune of $40 million, branched out across the country soon after.
The chain’s success has seen it spread as far as the US, Japan, Singapore, Russia and China.
It appeared the spread was showing no signs of slowing down in January, when the company told Inside Retail Australia it aimed to open as many as seven new local stores this year.
However, it was clear all was not well with the Australian side of the business when Sunstate Ceilings — a Queensland business — filed a wind-up notice against Max Brenner on June 29.
The Australian Financial Review reported that Glenn Wein, the former head of the Packer family’s Consolidated Press Holdings, was looking to put together a “rescue” package to save the business, which owed about $50 million at the time.
McGrathNicol issued a statement saying it is working closely with Max Brenner’s management team to come up with a solution to the chain’s financial problems.
“All Max Brenner stores will operate on a ‘business as usual’ basis with minimum disruption whilst the administrators complete their urgent review of the operations,” it reads.
“We are assessing the prospects of completing a going concern sale of the business or a recapitalisation through the voluntary administration process.”
Business trends expert Dr Lauren Rosewarne from The University of Melbourne, said there may be many reasons for the confectionary brand’s Australian decline.
She told news.com.au there may even be a political factor at play — as the chain began life in Israel which has copped criticism over its ongoing and often violent feud with Palestine.
A first meeting of Max Brenner creditors will be held on October 11.
News.com.au has approached Max Brenner to comment on claims by former staff members.
STORES CLOSING:
1. Kingston ACT
2. UNSW (Kensington) NSW
3. Wollongong NSW
4. Central Park (Chippendale) NSW
5. Newtown NSW
6. Parramatta NSW
7. Casuarina Darwin NT
8. Gasworks (Newstead) QLD
9. Portside (Hamilton) QLD
10. Milton QLD
11. Townsville QLD
12. Toowoomba QLD
13. Australia Fair (Southport) QLD
14. Rockhampton QLD
15. Coolangatta QLD
16. Carindale QLD
17. Rundle Street (Adelaide) SA
18. Woodgrove (Melton West) VIC
19. Joondalup WA
20. Whitford City (Hillarys) WA
STORES THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN:
1. Belconnen ACT
2. Macquarie Centre (Macquarie Park) NSW
3. Narellan NSW
4. Doody Street (Alexandria) NSW
5. Charlestown NSW
6. Blacktown NSW
7. Manly NSW
8. Sydney Tower (Sydney CBD) NSW
9. Tuggerah NSW
10. Bondi Junction NSW
11. Surfers Paradise QLD
12. Robina QLD
13. Southbank (South Brisbane) QLD
14. Queen Victoria (Melbourne) VIC
15. Highpoint (Maribyrnong) VIC
16. Craigieburn VIC
17. Doncaster VIC
Have you worked at Max Brenner? Tell us about your experience. Email benjamin.graham@news.com.au
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