When Fox Friday opened not melbourne/food-and-drink/article/first-look-hobart-craft-brewery-fox-friday-opens-its-first-melbourne-taproom-richmond”>one, but perth/food-and-drink/article/now-open-hobart-brewery-fox-friday-opens-first-wa-outpost-20-taps-and-exclusive-beers”>two new Australian venues last year, it felt like maybe the Tasmanian-born brewery was weathering the strong economic headwinds facing the independent brewing industry. It wasn’t the case.
On Thursday, Benn and Sarah Hooper announced they were appointing McGrath Nicol to take control of Fox Friday’s portfolio of five hospitality venues and three production breweries, one of which is currently under construction. That includes leading Melbourne bottle shop Carwyn Cellars.
“Unfortunately, we’ve faced significant financial challenges that have brought us to this point. Our financial lender could not meet their obligations for our capital projects.”
“While funding was confirmed, we experienced continual delays extending to March 2025, and now they have been placed into liquidation. This left us covering major capital projects with operational funds, based on assurances that support was still coming.”
McGrath Nicol partners Keith Crawford and Robert Smith will oversee the sale or restructure of the Fox Friday Group.
“The administrators’ immediate priority is to work constructively with Fox Friday…
