Adelaide café owner strikes deal with ATO to pay superannuation debt

4

The owner of a popular Hahndorf café says she regrets expanding to Adelaide suburb Norwood after losing $200,000 since opening a fourth branch on The Parade.

Silvia Hart has entered into payment plan with the ATO to pay staff at the newest Seasonal Garden Cafe their entitlements, including former executive chef Zena Mansour who says she is owed $10,000 in superannuation.

Former cook Hamish Kearvell also maintained he was not paid superannuation during his tenure nor holiday pay when he quit last November after more than two years’ service.

She is also being sued by Pooraka fruit and vegetable wholesaler AMJ Produce over an alleged $100,000 debt.

“Towards my final months working I was assigned as head chef of the Norwood cafe despite no culinary qualifications,” he told The Advertiser. “I was the only cook in the kitchen for three out of five days and was unable to take a break during these days as I had no one to cover me, while working ten-hour-plus days.”

Speaking to The Advertiser, Hart said her decision to delegate management of the business owing to ongoing health issues was behind the café’s poor business management.

“I took a gamble that doesn’t always pay off,” she said. “It’s still a good business but we need it to perform better than it was.

“The estimated fit-out almost tripled because we had to rip up the floor, redo plumbing, electrical and that took a big chunk of money out of the business.”

The business is currently up for sale, less than one year after it opened.

4^th February 2019