Business
(VIDEO) Barbeques Galore to Close 62 Stores and Cut Hundreds of Jobs as Aussie Retail Icon Winds Up Operations
SYDNEY — Barbeques Galore, a beloved Australian retailer specializing in barbecues, outdoor furniture and heating products since the 1970s, will shutter 62 company-owned stores and wind up operations in the coming weeks after a last-ditch rescue deal collapsed, putting hundreds of workers at risk of redundancy and marking the end for an iconic brand.
The company, which entered voluntary administration in February 2026 with around 89 stores and 500 employees, announced Tuesday that efforts to find a buyer or complete a recapitalization had failed. Receivers will now oversee the closure of company stores while exploring transitional arrangements for 27 franchise outlets.
Administrators and receivers from Grant Thornton and Ankura had pursued a sale process and a conditional recapitalization proposal from secured creditor Gordon Brothers. However, negotiations with landlords, suppliers and other parties could not reach acceptable commercial terms, leading to the decision to wind up the business.
“This is a tragic final chapter for an iconic Australian retail brand,” said Roger Montgomery of The Montgomery Fund. “If you can’t sell barbecues to Aussies, who can you sell to?”
Founded in the 1970s by Max Mason, Barbeques Galore grew into a household name, offering a wide range of outdoor living products. At the time of administration in mid-February, the group operated 68 company-owned stores and 27 franchised locations. Five underperforming stores had already closed during the process.
The collapse reflects broader pressures on Australian retail, including high inflation, cost-of-living challenges, shifting consumer preferences toward apartments with smaller outdoor spaces, and a post-budget slowdown in spending. Liquidity issues persisted despite earlier ownership changes, including a 2025 transition involving private equity and Gordon Brothers.
Staff will continue to be employed during the receivership process or receive redundancy as stores wind down. Receivers stated that all employees will be paid their full accrued redundancies and termination payments in the ordinary course of separation. The company employed approximately 500 people at the start of administration.
Customers holding gift cards can redeem them until June 30 under specific conditions. For every $1 of gift card value used, shoppers must spend an additional $2 of their own money. Unredeemed cards after the deadline will be treated as unsecured creditors. The arrangement, first announced in February, aims to facilitate orderly wind-down while providing some value to holders.
The failed Gordon Brothers proposal had offered a potential path to keep the business operating as a going concern via a deed of company arrangement. It was viewed as the best outcome for stakeholders, including employees, landlords and suppliers, but ultimately could not proceed.
Receivers noted that a formal sale process attracted interest but yielded no offers capable of acceptance or implementation by late May. The combination of challenging economic conditions and difficulties securing ongoing trading terms sealed the fate of the company-owned operations.
Franchise stores face uncertainty, with receivers working through transitional arrangements. The future of those outlets and associated employees remains unclear as the broader group winds up.
The news comes amid a tough retail environment in Australia. Analysts point to structural shifts, including reduced demand for large outdoor items as more people live in high-density housing, alongside macroeconomic headwinds like rising costs and cautious consumer spending.
Barbeques Galore had attempted to adapt through ownership changes and operational reviews, but persistent liquidity challenges proved insurmountable. CEO David White, who stepped into the role late last year, had expressed optimism during earlier restructuring talks about building on the brand’s market position.
For suppliers and landlords, the wind-up will involve asset sales and stock liquidation. The amount creditors ultimately recover will depend on the outcomes of these processes. Receivers remain in control and will continue exploring any remaining sale opportunities for assets.
The case highlights vulnerabilities in specialty retail. Barbeques Galore’s focus on seasonal and big-ticket items made it particularly susceptible to economic cycles. Similar pressures have affected other Australian chains in recent years, prompting calls for greater support for small and medium businesses.
Customers are encouraged to use remaining gift cards promptly. In-store and online operations for company stores will continue during the sell-through period before closures accelerate. The exact timeline for individual store shutdowns will be communicated as the process unfolds.
Industry observers describe the outcome as disappointing for a brand with deep roots in Australian culture. Barbeques symbolize backyard gatherings and outdoor lifestyle, elements long central to national identity. The closure of dozens of stores will leave gaps in communities where the retailer served as a go-to destination.
As the wind-up proceeds, attention turns to the human impact. Hundreds of employees, many with long tenures, face job losses at a time when the labor market shows signs of softening in retail sectors. Support services for affected workers are expected through standard redundancy processes and government programs.
The failure also underscores challenges in retail restructuring. Even with creditor backing for a recapitalization, securing buy-in from multiple stakeholders proved difficult amid tight margins and uncertain trading conditions.
Looking ahead, the 27 franchise stores may seek independent paths or potential buyers. Receivers will provide updates as developments occur. For the broader retail sector, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about adapting to evolving consumer behaviors and economic realities.
Barbeques Galore’s story began decades ago with a focus on quality barbecues and outdoor essentials. While the company-owned operations conclude, the brand’s legacy in Australian shopping may endure through remaining franchises or potential asset acquisitions. For now, the immediate focus remains on an orderly closure that honors employee entitlements and customer commitments where possible.
The company’s split into two publicly traded entities is on target for early 2027.
Business
Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS) Presents at Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2026 – Slideshow
Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS) Presents at Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2026 – Slideshow
FOX Business correspondent Madison Alworth reports on the food delivery drones that are taking flight in New Jersey on ‘Varney & Co.’
The ultimate test of fast-food physics is arriving in Miami.
Chick-fil-A is expanding its footprint in the Sunshine State with a new delivery-only “ghost kitchen” in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, marking a strategic move to bypass the real estate constraints of traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants.
Operating within the CloudKitchens network, the location is the privately held fast-food giant’s first delivery-only kitchen in Florida and just its sixth nationwide, allowing the company to maximize kitchen capacity and meet demand without the overhead costs of a traditional dining room.
CHICK-FIL-A FRANCHISEE SUED AFTER ALLEGEDLY FIRING EMPLOYEE OVER SABBATH OBSERVANCE
The restaurant is located at 1900 NE Miami Court, and will fulfill orders primarily through third-party delivery platforms, according to a Chick-fil-A press release. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight – two hours later than Chick-fil-A’s typical dine-in or drive-thru closing time.
Employees prepare fried chicken sandwiches for guests during an event ahead of the grand opening of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in New York. (Getty Images)
The new Wynwood location is expected to create approximately 30 local jobs, offering hands-on training, mentoring and competitive benefits.
“We know how important fast and reliable delivery is to Wynwood, and we want to meet the community where they are while keeping our signature hospitality,” owner-operator Thomas Overby said in the release.
“Being born and raised in Miami, serving this community is very special to me. Our new delivery kitchen location gives us the opportunity to serve the Wynwood community in a way that works best for them and gives me the privilege to deepen my connection with my hometown,” he continued.
CP Group managing partner Angelo Bianco speaks exclusively to Fox News Digital about FC Barcelona’s new headquarters office lease in Downtown Miami’s One Biscayne Tower.
While traditional restaurants face constraints including seating capacity, kitchen square footage and limited hours, a delivery-only kitchen allows the brand to serve a larger customer base and operate at full capacity without paying for prime retail real estate or dining room upkeep.
Partnering with established kitchen infrastructure networks like CloudKitchens allows the company to rapidly deploy its delivery framework into high-density urban areas such as Miami.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Starbird founder Aaron Noveshen told FOX Business the chain is redefining fast food with higher-quality ingredients.
Unlike its publicly traded competitors, Chick-fil-A is a privately held company with no public shareholders and reigns as America’s third-largest quick service restaurant. The slow rollout of its “ghost kitchen” model mirrors similar smaller-scale moves Chick-fil-A has made in recent years, like opening five stores in its first expansion into England and just one in Singapore – a city with more than 6 million people.
Chick-fil-A’s other five delivery-only locations operate in College Park, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Boston, Massachusetts; and Northern California.
Form 6K BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA For: 9 June
Key Takeaways
- Thailand’s economy faces mixed signals, with its shrimp industry under pressure from Malaysia’s import ban, a shrinking trade surplus raising baht concerns, and car production at a five-year low. Counterbalancing these challenges, Thailand ranks second globally in AI adoption growth, TikTok has approved a $25 billion data-center investment, and foreign industrial investment continues.
- Tourism policy is shifting toward quality over volume, with visa-free stay reductions for over 90 countries and a new digital immigration app launching before August 2026. Politically, Pita Limjaroenrat was acquitted of lèse-majesté charges, a major immigration crackdown has led to roughly 14,000 detentions, and education inequality remains a persistent concern across governance discussions.
Economy, Trade, and Industry
The Thai shrimp industry, once the world’s largest, is under significant pressure following Malaysia’s ban on imports, prompting Thailand to explore premium market alternatives and consider filing a formal challenge through the WTO and ASEAN. Meanwhile, Thailand’s shrinking trade surplus is raising concerns about baht stability, even as the country’s private sector is being urged to lead recovery efforts in the wake of disruptions to Hormuz shipping routes.
On a more positive note, Thailand ranks second globally for AI adoption growth, according to Microsoft, signaling strong momentum in technology development. TikTok has received approval for a $25 billion data-center buildout, anchoring a broader $29 billion AI infrastructure wave in the country. Additionally, Continental has inaugurated an expansion of its tire plant in Rayong, reflecting continued foreign industrial investment, although car production fell to its lowest level in five years in April.
Thailand is also actively aligning with regional trade frameworks. The country is participating in RCEP-driven initiatives linking Chinese sourcing to Thailand’s Industry 4.0 ambitions, while Vietnam and Thailand are pursuing a higher bilateral trade target with strengthened logistics integration.
Tourism, Travel, and Immigration
Tourism remains a central pillar of Thailand’s economic strategy, with several major developments underway. Thailand is set to launch the THIM (Thailand Immigration Management) app before August 2026, a high-tech digital arrival system designed to streamline immigration processing, reduce waiting times, and support group travelers with full digital arrival management.
In a significant policy shift, Thailand has reduced visa-free stay durations for over 90 countries, including the United States, in response to concerns over tourist misbehavior. The move reflects a broader effort to attract higher-quality visitors rather than prioritizing volume alone.
Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) is actively promoting the country across Europe, having launched the Amazing Thailand Fest 2026 in Amsterdam, spotlighting Thai food, wellness, and cultural heritage. The campaign is part of a strategic gastronomy and lifestyle push targeting European markets. Thailand also introduced a Gold Card benefit expansion covering gender-affirming hormone therapy, broadening its appeal as a medical and wellness tourism destination.
Domestically, Pathum Thani is working to transform the “Eye of Thailand” into a global landmark, while Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui has launched coral reef conservation efforts to support sustainable tourism. Thailand’s wellness sector is experiencing growing international interest, with new experiences launching in June 2026.
Politics, Governance, and Security
Thailand’s political landscape continues to evolve. Pita Limjaroenrat is strategizing a path forward for democratic reform, while a Democrat MP has warned that policy discontinuity remains the deepest wound in Thailand’s education system, contributing to a vicious cycle that disproportionately harms children from lower-income households. A separate report highlights that Thailand’s “free education” policy is failing the poor due to structural and resource inequalities.
On the legal and security front, Thailand has acquitted political leader Pita Limjaroenrat of lèse-majesté charges, a significant ruling in the country’s ongoing political discourse. The government has also launched a sweeping immigration crackdown titled “No Entry, No Stay, No Escape,” which has resulted in approximately 14,000 detentions over five months.
A Japanese man has been arrested at a Thai airport in connection with an alleged yakuza-linked call-center scam based in Cambodia, highlighting ongoing cross-border organized crime challenges. Thailand’s Consumer Council has also filed lawsuits against four global digital platforms over scams, reflecting a tougher regulatory stance on online fraud.
Regional Affairs and Diplomacy
Thailand is navigating several complex regional relationships. The Thai-Cambodian maritime dispute is evolving, with analysts noting that UNCLOS conciliation frameworks are changing the negotiating landscape following years of deadlock since the 2001 MOU. Cambodia has experienced a 70% drop in its overseas workforce following border tensions with Thailand, with Vietnam emerging as a potential beneficiary of the disruption.
Thailand-Taiwan ties are deepening, with Executive Director Narong making a third visit as Taichung’s mayor pledges to strengthen international engagement. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Thailand are seeking stronger defense cooperation and have committed to creating new momentum in bilateral ties.
Thailand is also advancing LNG trade talks with the United States as conflict impacts Qatar’s export capacity, and a new southern peace negotiator has pledged an open-minded approach to longstanding regional tensions.
Society, Health, and Human Interest
On the humanitarian front, the UN has praised Thailand’s decision to offer jobs to Myanmar refugees, describing the initiative as a potential blueprint for other Asian nations facing labor shortages. The WHO is simultaneously strengthening health emergency risk assessments in Thailand, and the U.S. Embassy has issued an alert regarding enhanced Ebola screening measures currently in effect.
A tragic incident involving a six-year-old boy killed by his grandfather’s pet monkey has drawn widespread attention and prompted calls for stricter exotic pet regulations. Separately, a married couple reportedly died by suicide at a Bangkok hotel, jumping from a balcony while holding hands amid reports of severe financial debt — a sobering reminder of the pressures facing vulnerable individuals.
Thailand’s monsoon season has prompted nationwide alerts for heavy rainfall, while education experts warn that children are falling behind academically in ways that could have long-term consequences for the nation’s development.
Source : Google News – Search
Other People are Reading
Business
Scholar Rock Holding Corporation (SRRK) Presents at Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript
Unknown Analyst
Maybe to start, if you could provide us an overview of your company for those who may not be familiar, including the updates that we’ll see within the next year.
David Hallal
CEO & Chairman of the Board
Great. Thanks, Tommy. It’s great to be here once again at the 47th Goldman Sachs Healthcare Conference. David Hallal, Chairman and CEO of Scholar Rock, which is a Cambridge-based biotech company that has been focused on myostatin biology, and we’re very proud that we are the world leaders in myostatin biology. This is obviously a target that was identified in 1997.
The first anti-myostatin inhibitor went into the clinic in 2004, 2005. And really, over the period of these last 20-some years, there have been multiple myostatin inhibitors that have failed in clinical development. We stand alone with our unique technology platform and approach to myostatin biology as the first and only company that has successfully developed a myostatin inhibition program through mid- and late-stage development with a successful Phase III trial with our lead asset, which is apitegromab for children and adults living with SMA.
As Tommy has asked, what does the next 12, 18 months look like for our company? We’re super excited having hit a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in motor function with the highest gold standard measure of the Hammersmith Motor Function Scale in SMA for children and adults living with SMA to now be on file with both
The joint venture between Mukesh Ambani‘s Jio Financial Services and the world’s largest asset manager has amassed about 180 billion rupees ($1.9 billion) in assets under management in roughly a year since its launch by building a base in cash, debt-index and active equity funds.
It plans to start with equity-focused ETF strategies.
BlackRock oversees about $5.1 trillion in ETF assets globally, more than a third of its total assets under management, underscoring the importance of the product line to its franchise. Jio BlackRock currently ranks as India’s 29th-largest asset manager.
“ETFs are a long-term play. While it is a predominantly institutional heavy market (in India), retail are starting to get more involved in ETFs. And we can see from global trends how well ETFs have been adopted as a choice for investing,” Sid Swaminathan, managing director and chief executive officer of Jio BlackRock Asset Management, told Reuters.
ETF INNOVATION COULD BOOST LIQUIDITY
Passive mutual fund assets in India stood at 15.20 trillion rupees in April, or about 18.5% of the industry’s 81.94 trillion rupees in average assets under management, according to data from the mutual fund industry association. By comparison, equity index funds and ETFs account for about 45.3% of long-term mutual fund and ETF assets in the U.S.
Swaminathan said tighter bid-offer spreads and more innovative strategies could help improve liquidity and boost retail participation in Indian ETFs.
The company also plans to launch products in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s low-tax financial hub competing with centres such as Singapore and Dubai, within the next couple of months.
COMPLEX PRODUCTS PROMPT PIVOT TO DISTRIBUTOR-LED MODEL
For more complex offerings, including special investment funds and GIFT City products, Jio BlackRock has adopted a distributor-led model rather than a digital-first approach, reflecting the continued role of advisers in selling higher-ticket products.
Swaminathan said the decision to prioritise those launches was partly shaped by market conditions. India’s benchmark Nifty 50 is down 11.1% so far in 2026 amid foreign outflows, higher oil prices and moderating earnings growth, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index is up 18.2%.
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Wes Morris to succeed Devin Cole.
First new concept since company’s founding in 2004.
Stars + Honey said it will use the investment to expand its brand.
Brewer innovation key to Keurig Dr Pepper’s coffee spinoff
Paradigm challenges FDIC over controversial stablecoin yield ban
MONEY NEWS I – 08/06/26 | CNN MONEY
-
Fashion4 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Evereve – Corporette.com
-
Crypto World4 days agoJensen Huang Approves Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron for NVIDIA (NVDA) HBM4 Memory Supply
-
Sports7 days agoFrench Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev beats Rafael Jodar and will play Jakub Mensik in semi-finals
-
Business7 days agoTrump Taps Housing Chief Bill Pulte as Acting Intelligence Director After Gabbard Exit
-
Crypto World1 day agoAnatomy of the June crypto crash: Fed, Iran, Saylor
-
NewsBeat7 days agoRepublicans balk at Trump’s attempt to appoint a MAGA enforcer to lead National Intelligence
-
Crypto World3 days agoSenator Cynthia Lummis Calls CLARITY Act the Most Consequential Financial Legislation of This Generation
-
Business3 days agoThe Pain Points Taking a Fragile Tech Rally Down a Notch
-
Entertainment3 days agoThe Best Mystery Series of All Time Is Surging on Streaming 30 Years After It Ended
-
Tech2 days agoMicrosoft unveils seven homegrown AI models in new bid for ‘long term self-sufficiency’
-
Tech4 days agoMicrosoft launches MXC, an OS-level sandbox for AI agents, with OpenAI and Nvidia already on board
-
Crypto World4 days ago
LBank Surpasses 25 Million Users Worldwide as AFA Partnership Continues to Drive Global Growth
-
NewsBeat2 days agoAlexander Zverev wins the French Open to finally earn a 1st Grand Slam title
-
Business7 days agoPagerDuty, Inc. (PD) Presents at Bank of America 2026 Global Technology Conference Transcript
-
Tech4 days agoSuspicious Polyfill login prompts pop up on Toshiba, Muji websites
-
Crypto World2 days agoTrump’s AI Ownership Plan Could Benefit Anthropic at OpenAI’s Expense
-
Business4 days ago(VIDEO) Justin Bieber Delivers Surprise Happy Birthday Serenade to Diners at Los Angeles Mexican Restaurant
-
Tech4 days agoMeta steals a tactic from Tesla and builds data centers in tents
-
Tech4 days agoRCS Messages Between iPhone and Android Get End-to-End Encryption With iOS 26.5
-
Business7 days ago
Asia stocks rise past US-Iran jitters; Nikkei hits record high on stimulus cheer
You must be logged in to post a comment Login