Bankruptcy

Financing

Subway and Starbucks oust their Brazilian operator

SouthRock Capital, a major food and beverage operator in the country, had its master franchise agreement with Subway terminated after less than a year and lost its license to operate Starbucks.

Financing

The pandemic is not yet done with restaurants

The Bottom Line: A rash of bankruptcy filings shows that small brands and franchisees continue to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic, three and a half years later.

Premier Kings, a 172-unit Alabama and Georgia operator whose owner died in 2022, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing substantial operating losses.

The 12-unit Massachusetts plant-based chain sought debt protection after sales didn’t recover as expected and financing froze just as it kicked off expansion plans.

Icebox Cafe, which operates four restaurants plus some vending machines, said dealings with “aggressive lenders” had a role in its filing.

Meridian Restaurants, the large operator that declared bankruptcy in March, is selling 70 of its 91 remaining restaurants to several different franchisees as well as the brand following an auction this month.

The fast-casual chain was born in Kentucky and had big plans for franchise expansion before rising interest rates put a damper on growth, the company said.

The fast-casual better-burger chain that once had nearly 200 restaurants filed for Chapter 11, its second such filing in just over a decade, after closing several restaurants.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based casual-dining chicken wing chain sought Chapter 11 debt protection, citing the impact of the pandemic and an inability to restructure its debt. The company closed 15 locations.

The fast-casual chain appears to be deteriorating as locations shut down, vendors file lawsuits, workers go unpaid and managers get their supplies from Sam’s Club.

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