Wishbone liquidation leaves a hole across Wellington

Wednesday, 16 August 2023

Wishbone on Featherston Street did not open on Wednesday August 16.

With Wishbone Cafe in liquidation, public facilities where branches now sit empty are working out what to do with the vacant spaces.

Wellington Airport, Wellington Hospital, Victoria University and Wellington City Council all once had stores on their premises, which are now shut permanently as of August 15.

On Wednesday, the company’s food production facility in Ngauranga was empty, with boxes piled up and most of the furniture removed. A Wairarapa property linked to owners Andrea Gibson Scarlett and Shayne Scarlett was also empty.

Wellington Airport’s cafe closed on Tuesday and has not reopened.

Spokesperson Phil Rennie said the company had let them know they were liquidating and was “working through the details”.

The now defunct food production facility for Wishbone Cafe in Ngauranga, Wellington

Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean echoed a similar position regarding the cafe at the council-owned Ākau Tangi Sports Centre in Kilbirnie, which also closed on August 15.

“We’re still working things out with the receivers as there’s some practicalities to work out.

“Obviously, we’d rather this process happen quickly so that we can get a new operator in.”

The last remaining pallets being cleared away as the Wishbone Cafe's food production facility in Ngauranga permanently shuts

Victoria acting chief operating officer Simon Johnson said the university would “consider future options for the space vacated by Wishbone in due course”.

“The university community is very sad to see Wishbone close and we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the team over the years.”

The only exception was the cafe at Wellington Regional Hospital, which was still open when The Post visited on Wednesday.

The hospital was still awaiting confirmation from the liquidator as to how long the branch would remain open and it’s still unclear how the cafe will operate given the food production facility in Ngauranga is defunct.

All refused to comment on whether Wishbone owed them money and Wellington Hospital refused to comment on whether the remaining Wishbone Cafe on its premises was due to a differing contractual agreement.

At the Ngauranga facility, the only staff member left was a forklift driver tying up loose ends and shifting the remaining pallets and rubbish bins.

Kiwi Trophies and Engraving owner Dave Edgecombe, who works two doors down from the facility, said it all happened very quickly.

“On Monday, we saw staff members taking food out of the building and I assume they were taking it home. It was a pretty clear sign that it was all over.

“It’s been pretty empty yesterday and today. That car park out the front is usually full of vehicles but you can see how clear it is today.”

Liquidation Management Ltd, the company overseeing the process around Wishbone, declined to comment.

The Wellington-based Wishbone first opened on Woodward St in March 2000, “starting with a sandwich” and expanding its stores to Auckland in 2004. In 2003, it was ranked number 35 in the Deloitte Fast 50 list of companies.