A shocking revelation has emerged about the fast food empire, Burgertory, and its founder, Hash Tayeh. The story takes a dark turn as we uncover the potential downfall of 13 companies linked to this chain.
In a recent report, liquidators investigating the failed stores of Burgertory have raised serious concerns about the chain's collapse. They suspect that Tayeh, despite resigning as a director, maintained control over the businesses, leading to a staggering $1 million in unpaid staff superannuation.
But here's where it gets controversial... Tayeh and his business partners are now facing investigations into their management practices and the alleged dispersal of assets. According to Pitcher Partners, a leading liquidator firm, they could be subjected to public examinations.
The report, prepared in September 2025, reveals that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) had won court orders to wind up 13 entities associated with Tayeh. These entities included 10 stores and 3 management companies linked to Burgertory and QSR Collective.
Interestingly, a large portion of the Burgertory chain remains operational and unaffected by these liquidations. However, the failed companies, including stores in Box Hill, Coburg North, and other locations, owe nearly $1 million to staff and $2.3 million to other creditors.
Some of these affected stores have found new life under different franchise owners, according to the report.
Liquidator Andrew Yeo, in his report, expressed his opinion that current and former directors had breached the Corporations Act. He noted ongoing investigations into the companies' trading practices and the directors' duties.
"My preliminary investigations have uncovered several matters that require further examination," Yeo stated. "These include transactions with related parties, potential breaches of directors' duties, and the disposition of assets before the appointment of the liquidator."
Yeo believes that the complex nature of these issues suggests that crucial information relevant to the liquidation may be held by individuals and entities who have not yet fully disclosed it.
Tayeh, who founded the chain in 2018, stepped down as CEO in July 2025 after news of the group's debt to the ATO became public. This news came two months after Tayeh's business received a bomb threat, adding to a series of violent incidents targeting him and his properties.
Tayeh, a prominent pro-Palestinian protester, responded to the ATO's court action by claiming that he has been subjected to targeted attacks, smears, and harassment due to his outspoken nature against injustice.
He has described the tax case against him as a setup, having received a director penalty notice of over $1 million for unpaid taxes, including staff superannuation.
In a June 2025 Instagram post, Tayeh wrote, "ATO vs Hash Tayeh: the untold story. Since 2023, I've been hunted, harassed, firebombed, dragged through courts, falsely accused, and now they've weaponized the ATO against me."
Tayeh's legal troubles extend beyond tax issues. In March 2025, he was charged with using insulting words in public after allegedly chanting "all Zionists are terrorists" at a 2024 rally in Melbourne's CBD.
Professor Anne Twomey, a constitutional expert from Sydney University, raised concerns about the use of "insulting speech" laws to regulate political protests, suggesting it could face a constitutional challenge in the High Court.
In December, the magistrate hearing Tayeh's case instructed prosecutors to prove Tayeh's intent to insult or offend when he made the statement, a decision Tayeh saw as a victory for free speech. The charge against Tayeh remains before the court.
The liquidator's report further suggests that Tayeh continued to oversee the entities in liquidation, even after resigning as a director and installing new people in 2023 under the group's franchise model.
Evidence indicates that Tayeh maintained control over the businesses' bank accounts and provided instructions to accounts and solicitors. Additionally, the liquidator has been unable to locate a 2019 BWM sedan registered as an asset of the business, and Tayeh has not responded to requests for information about the vehicle's sale and location.
The liquidator, Andrew Yeo, plans to call Tayeh and others associated with the business to public examinations, hoping to shed more light on the chain's affairs.
"The examination process is crucial for obtaining information that might not otherwise be forthcoming," Yeo stated.
Yeo is seeking funding from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and private litigation funders to continue his investigations and conduct the examination process.
This story is a reminder of the complex web of issues that can arise when businesses collapse, and the potential impact on employees, creditors, and the wider community.
What are your thoughts on this complex situation? Do you think public examinations will provide the necessary transparency, or is there a risk of further controversy? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below.
