About 500 jobs are in limbo after Barbeques Galore entered voluntary administration and receivership, following what the retailer described as ongoing cash flow pressure.
Grant Thornton’s Philip Campbell-Wilson, Lisa Gibb and Matthew Byrnes were appointed voluntary administrators on Thursday to review options for the barbeque and outdoor furniture chain.
The business operates 68 company-owned stores and 27 franchise locations nationwide, totalling nearly 100 outlets and roughly 500 staff.
Gift card redemption now comes with conditions
Customers can still use gift cards, but only if they spend twice the card’s value. That means shoppers must spend an extra $2 for every $1 on their voucher.
For example, a customer would need to make a $150 purchase to redeem a $50 gift card, paying the remaining $100 themselves.
Orders paid in full or in part are expected to be fulfilled unless stock is unavailable.
Receivers appointed as business continues trading
A secured creditor has also appointed Ankura’s Quentin Olde, Luke Pittorino and Liam Healey as receivers.
The company will continue trading while the receivers assess options, including a potential restructure or sale.
Chief executive David White said management had been working to turn the business around and had made “considerable” progress, but liquidity constraints forced the restructure. The comments were reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Olde described Barbeques Galore as an “iconic” retailer and said he expected interest from retail operators and financial investors. Those remarks were also reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Private equity ownership history
Barbeques Galore has been owned by several private equity firms over the past two decades. It was listed on the US NASDAQ exchange from 1997 to 2005 before being acquired by Ironbridge Capital.
Quadrant later took a controlling stake in 2012 and bought the remainder in 2016. More recently, the Australian Financial Review reported in late 2025 that international retail investment firm Gordon Brothers bought the chain for a “nominal amount”.