Vue Group establishments open to offers
Vue Group, which is spearheaded by chef Shannon Bennett, has reportedly been looking to offload some of its dining establishments.
The Vue Group of restaurants includes flagship Vue de monde, Iki-Jime, Jardin Tan, Lui Bar and Cafe Burnham.
Bennett sold almost two-thirds of his company for $14.6 million in 2016, with his stake in the company now down to about 20 per cent.
Vue Group CEO Andrew Skinner told The Sydney Morning Herald that Iki-Jime and Benny Burger were for sale, and that the group would be "open to a commercial arrangement for a sale [for the restaurants] to go through as vacant tenancy".
An unnamed industry source claimed that seafood fine diner Iki-Jime was offered at a quick sale price of only $1.
Rumours that flagship two-hatted restaurant Vue de monde is also up for sale were squashed by Bennett who said it was “absolute rubbish”.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Bennett said "the restaurants are not for sale at all in any capacity whatsoever," but "if someone comes and makes a great offer for Jardin Tan or something like that, then great, happy to talk about it."
The report suggests that the sale has been motivated by dissatisfaction between Bennett and the Singaporean-based Far East Organisation who own a majority stake in the group.
Sheridan Randall, 27th August 2019
