Hog's Breath CEO responds to franchisee allegations
The news comes before the chain’s 30th anniversary in June.
Hog’s Breath has responded to reports of franchisees expressing dissatisfaction and allegations of mismanagement following a series of store closures.
“To say that restaurant closures can’t be blamed on a downturn in the economy is contrary to every report that I’ve read over the past 18 months. It’s unquestionably the toughest environment we’ve seen in our thirty year history,” Hog’s Breath CEO Ross Worth said in a statement.
Aside from a decrease in spending, Worth said they also had to adapt to “completely new customer eating habits with the arrival of Uber Eats and other food delivery services.”
“Of course this is sadly going to impact on some restaurants, as it has impacted on many across the country, including several high profile closures from leading chefs and operators,” he added.
Earlier reports detail disgruntled Hog's Breath franchisees who have claimed that rebranding of the business name from Hog's Breath Café to Hog's Australia’s Steakhouse was confusing and damaged the franchise’s image. The chain currently has over 65 restaurants and is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in June.
Worth said the company’s focus will remain on their existing network.
“It’s never easy to close a restaurant but our focus must stay on our franchisees and 65 plus restaurants as we continue to evolve and look for ways to decrease costs and increase profitability through technology and other initiatives,” he said.
