Renowned chef Shannon Kellam’s culinary empire, which encompassed several Brisbane bakeries and hospitality venues, has faced closure as the company overseeing them goes into liquidation, leaving 90 employees without jobs.
BCN Events Group, helmed by Kellam, operated various hospitality establishments including King Street Bakery and Mica Patteserie. In response to the company’s financial downfall, Mark Holland, Jamie Harris, and Anthony Connelly from McGrathNicol Restructuring have been appointed as liquidators.
Mark Holland expressed, “At this preliminary stage, BCN Events appears to be a casualty of the headwinds facing the hospitality industry. We are currently undertaking an urgent appraisal to consider options available.” Consequently, the well-known Mica (Newstead & CBD) and King Street Bakery outlets will remain closed, causing disruption to ongoing operations.
A spokesperson for BCN Events confirmed that the group employed 90 staff, expressing intentions to collaborate with employees, customers, and suppliers during this challenging period.
Despite the setback, Kellam’s acclaimed French restaurant, Montrachet, continues to operate as usual in Brisbane.
BCN’s liquidation adds to a growing list of casualties within the hospitality sector, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Recent weeks have witnessed the closure of two of Sydney’s prominent restaurants, Tetsuya’s and Lucky Kwong, managed by celebrity chefs Tetsuya Wakuda and Kylie Kwong, respectively.
Reflecting on the industry’s challenges, Kwong remarked, “Everyone is feeling it. I have never seen the restaurant industry in such tough times as it is right now.”
