The Bunker cafes across Penrith and the Blue Mountains have suddenly closed, with the company behind them appointing liquidators.
Liquidators were appointed to Western Food Group Pty Ltd, which runs the cafes, on Wednesday.
The venues at Mulgoa, Castlereagh, Springwood and Leura ceased trading on Tuesday and are currently all closed.
Trent McMillen and Ernie Chou of Penrith-based firm Mac Insolvency have been appointed liquidators.
The shock collapse has thrown plans for Christmas parties and functions into limbo and left staff with question marks over their jobs on the cusp of the festive season.
However, the liquidators have confirmed to the Weekender that they are currently negotiating with impacted parties in the hope that the cafes could resume trading as early as next week.
Adam Howard and Gemma Wall are due to get married at The Bunker in Mulgoa next weekend.
“I’m very very upset by it. My wife has put in a lot of effort to get everything to this stage and seeing it all crumble on us last night, it was bloody hard to see,” Howard said.
“We found out through my brother-in-law; his mum is the cleaner and she went to go to work and her boss said not to worry going in, they had gone into liquidation.
“It’s devastating, especially eight days out from the wedding.”
“We’ve got people coming from interstate.
“We were trying for this date because it is my grandparents’ wedding anniversary. Pop’s been sick for a while, we booked this date to make sure he could get there but unfortunately he passed away two weeks ago. It’s been a bit of a mess at the moment. Not what we were hoping for.”
The liquidators are hoping to have an update mid-way through next week on whether trading will resume.
All staff have been stood down.
In a media release issued this afternoon, it was confirmed that Western Food Group would transfer ownership of The Bunker in the hopes of saving the business.
“This has not been an easy decision, but it is a necessary one. Our priority is to ensure our employees are supported through this process, and we remain deeply grateful for their dedication and hard work over the years,” the statement said.
Western Food Group also expressed heartfelt thanks to the community for its unwavering support throughout the company’s journey.
“We are incredibly grateful for the loyalty and encouragement we’ve received from our customers, partners, and local communities. Their support has been the backbone of our operations, and we remain committed to honouring that trust as we explore pathways for renewal,” the statement said.
“The Western Food Group is actively working with stakeholders to explore options. While the road ahead presents challenges, the company views this as a pivotal moment to embrace change.”
The decision to transfer ownership follows a challenging personal period for the current Director, Ross Purser, with his divorce voiding a position to retain the business, his priority focused on keeping 118 staff with jobs.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.