Barbeques Galore Brand Finds New Owner After Collapse
Synopsis
Victorian wholesaler ACOM International has acquired the retailer's intellectual property and wholesale inventory, preserving the brand after the chain entered administration in June.
Barbeques Galore will remain alive following the closure of its company operated stores with the Victorian wholesaler ACOM International taking over the retail brand's intellectual property and wholesale stock.
The deal comes after a proposal for an acquisition rescue failed in June 2026 and is Australia's oldest outdoor retailer's next phase.
The deal is for the Barbeques Galore brand along with product brands including Ziegler & Brown, Ziggy, Turbo, Beefmaster, Firehawk, Arrosto, Downunder, Saxon, Maxiheat and Kent.
The appointment of Long-serving ex exec Mike Ainsworth as chief executive will oversee the business which will be run through wholesale distribution, online sales and export activity rather than a corporate retail business.
Retail Business Ends, Brand Moves Forward
Barbeques Galore's corporate retail stores are not part of the acquisition. The retailer's financial difficulties persisted until it was placed in voluntary administration in February 2026, with a proposed recapitalisation plan that was turned down in June when the company's last company owned stores closed.
When it was introduced, Barbeques Galore was running 68 company owned outlets and 27 independently owned Barbeques Galore stores throughout Australia. During the administration process, five corporate stores closed and the other 62 company stores were placed into wind-down.
The 27 franchise stores remain licensed individually and were not a part of the corporate administration.
In FY2024, the business's reported revenue was approximately A$172 million, while its pre-tax loss was A$16.1 million, which was mainly due to lower discretionary consumer demand and increased operating expenses in the retail sector.
Outdoor Brands Retained Under ACOM Ownership
The deal provides the company with a library of proven outdoor cooking and heating brands and will transform the company's business model to a wholesale orientation. Current supplier relations will not be affected; a new emphasis is placed on retail partners, e-commerce and selected export markets.
The change in ownership follows the subdued discretionary spending that Australia's retail sector has been dealing with. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that the value of retail turnover in Australia in seasonally adjusted terms was A$37.4 billion in June 2026, with household goods retailing, the largest category of non-essential spending, posting a lower growth rate than other essential spending categories.
IBISWorld estimates the value of hardware and building supplies retailing in Australia to exceed A$40 billion per annum, but the industry experienced dampened demand in recent years due to the negative impact of rising interest rates and rising cost of living on household spending.
Barbeques Galore was established in 1977 and has been serving the Australian outdoor living market for almost 50 years. Its corporate retail system has been discontinued, but the acquisition guarantees the brand and its product lines will remain in the hands of ACOM International.
Source: AFR
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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