Buyer sought to save gourmet burger chain Burger Burger facing $5.3m debt

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Burger Burger has gone into receivership after 12 years.

The gourmet burger chain began in 2014 in Auckland before expanding.

Burger Burger Holdings director Mimi Gilmour said she was still fighting to save the business, but admitted the company started struggling in 2025.

A new owner is being sought to rescue gourmet burger chain Burger Burger, which owes millions of dollars after running out of cash to fund its operations.

Burger Burger began in 2014 with a store in Auckland before expanding with branches across Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. The company, Burgerburger Ltd, entered voluntary administration in June.

Joint administrators Raymond Paul Cox and Gareth Russel Hoole said in a report to creditors last week that finding a purchaser offered the best pathway to protect the brand’s future.

“The administrators are of the view that the company should actively seek out a buyer of the business, who may continue the core business and engage with suppliers, landlords and staff to continue to trade the brand into the future,” the report stated.

The administrators confirmed they were already in active discussions with prospective buyers.

Centrix data shows a tale of two islands: South Island financial arrears are low, while North Island communities struggle. Meanwhile, hospitality liquidations have surged by nearly 50% as households cut back on dining out.

“The administrators have … concentrated their efforts on seeking a buyer of the business and, at the time of preparation of this report, were engaged with three parties who had indicated a level of intent that merited investment of time and effort in due diligence and assisting to facilitate new lease arrangements,” the report said.

All five operating restaurants continue to trade on a “business-as-usual” basis while talks progress.

The company owes approximately $5.32 million in total liabilities. That includes about $1.5 million to unsecured creditors, $800,000 to Inland Revenue, $500,000 to secured creditors, and around $250,000 to staff for unpaid holiday pay and alternate leave.

A further sum exceeding $2 million is recorded as owed to shareholder Burgerburger Holdings Ltd, which is in receivership.

Director Marina Gilmour-Buckley put forward a 24-month restructuring plan to save the business, proposing a transition to a multi-brand platform with Greek food, central food preparation, and Uber Eats virtual brands.

However, the turnaround strategy was contingent on securing fresh capital, which fell through after a proposed $800,000 facility from ASB Bank was declined.

Without committed funding, the administrators warned the company could not absorb short-term trading losses.

Creditors will vote on the business’s future at a watershed meeting on Friday.

If no sale or arrangement is completed, administrators recommend liquidation, concluding the company in its current form “has no sustainable core business”.