Company behind gourmet burger chain placed into liquidation

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Burgerburger Ltd has been placed into liquidation just a week after efforts were being made to find a buyer for the gourmet burger chain.

The company entered voluntary administration in June owing millions.

Burger Burger launched in Auckland in 2014 before expanding across the country.

The company behind Burger Burger has been placed into liquidation, a week after it was revealed that a buyer was being sought to save the gourmet burger chain.

Burger Burger began in 2014 with a store in Auckland before expanding with branches in Tauranga and Hamilton.

The company, Burgerburger Ltd, entered voluntary administration in June, and in a report to creditors earlier this month, administrators said 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.

Burger Burger’s store in Ponsonby, Auckland.

It can now be revealed, though, that both Burgerburger Ltd and Burgerburger IP Ltd are in liquidation, with Gareth Hoole and Raymond Cox appointed as joint and several liquidators.

A notice in the Gazette published on Monday said creditors have until August 21 to make any claims and establish any priority their claims may have.

Stuff has approached the appointed liquidators for comment.

Efforts had been made to find a buyer for Burger Burger, and administrators had previously said they were in active discussions with prospective buyers.

They said they had been engaging 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”.

All five operating restaurants were continuing to trade on a “business-as-usual” basis while those talks were taking place.

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.

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.

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

Director Marina Gilmour-Buckley had 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 and had recommended liquidating the business if no sale or arrangement was completed.

The hospitality sector has been hit hard by liquidations in the last year, with recent numbers from Centrix showing there were 51% more liquidations than a year earlier.