Barbeques Galore Saved From Collapse By Last-Minute Deal

Iconic Australian retailer Barbeques Galore has been saved from collapse through a last-minute deal with a Melbourne-based wholesaler, Acom International. The company, which entered voluntary administration in February due to liquidity issues, will now operate exclusively as an online store.

Acom International has acquired Barbeques Galore's intellectual property, brand portfolio, and wholesale inventory. This transition to an online-only wholesale model under new management puts approximately 500 jobs at risk. All 62 company-owned physical stores have ceased operations.

However, 24 independently-owned Barbeques Galore stores will continue to trade under a licensing agreement with Acom International. Quentin Olde, managing director of Ankura, who served as receiver, stated that the deal secures "a future for one of Australia's most iconic retail names and its family of brands." Mike Ainsworth, a long-serving executive at Barbeques Galore, has been appointed as the new chief executive of Acom International's Barbeques Galore division.

"Our ambition is simple: to bring Barbeques Galore and some of Australia's most loved barbecue and wood-heating brands within reach of more Australians," Ainsworth said. "We will do that by supporting our independent Barbeques Galore stores, expanding distribution through wholesale customers and other retailers, growing our export markets, and maintaining a strong national online presence." Brands already under Acom International include Ziegler Brown, Ziggy, Turbo, Beefmaster, Firehawk, Arrosto Pizza Ovens, Downunder, Saxon, Maxiheat, and Kent.

This agreement follows a previously proposed rescue plan in June by Gordon Brothers, which aimed to recapitalize the business by closing the 62 stores. However, that deal ultimately failed when Gordon Brothers could not secure commercial trading terms with suppliers. Barbeques Galore's website remained offline for orders, although the company appeared on the Acom International website following the announcement. The company was co-founded nearly 50 years ago by the late Peter Woodland.