Several divisions of Wendy’s franchisee Starboard Group, a Coral Springs, Fla.-based company, on Tuesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, involving about 70 locations of the burger brand, according to court filings.
The franchisee of the Dublin, Ohio-based brand filed the cases Tuesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Middle Florida in Orlando.
Quick-service restaurant franchisees have been buffeted by bankruptcy protection filings in 2023, including three Burger King franchise groups, the most recent Premier Kings, as well as Summit Restaurant Holdings LLC (a Hardee’s operator), Rice Enterprises (a McDonald’s operator in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area), and Premier Cajun Kings (a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee).
Starboard Group has Wendy’s locations in Alabama, Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company also operates other concepts, not involved in the bankruptcy filings, that include 22 CiCi’s Pizza restaurants, 15 Subway units, six McAlister’s Delis and five Fuzzy’s Taco Shops, according to its website.
The Wendy’s cases include Starboard divisions that include SBG Burger Opco LLC, Starboard Group of Alabama LLC, Starboard Group of Southeast Florida LLC, Starboard Group of Spacecoast, Starboard Group of Tampa LLC, and Starboard Group of Tampa II LLC.
The Starboard Group was founded in 1999.
Wendy's, founded in 1969, has more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide.
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