Burger King Franchise Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Consolidated Burger Holdings LLC, a franchise operator of 75 Burger King units in Florida and Georgia, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 15, 2025, in the Northern District of Florida.

The company, which claims assets and liabilities between $50 million and $100 million, cited financial difficulties that have emerged after a prolonged legal dispute with Burger King Corporation over a franchise agreement initiated in 2019. Consolidated’s chief restructuring officer, Joseph J. Luzinski, filed the petition with legal representation from Paul Steven Singerman of Berger Singerman LLP.

In total, the bankruptcy filing lists between 200 and 999 creditors, including significant amounts owed to Burger King Corp. for franchise fees totaling $2.4 million, MBM Corp. of Carrollton, Texas, for $125,480 in trade debt, and Applefield Five Family Limited Partners of Dothan, Ala., for $105,000 in unpaid rent.

A settlement to the ongoing legal issues was reached in September 2024 between Consolidated and Burger King, but the financial strain has proved too steep for the franchise.

The filing also includes information on affiliates, specifically Consolidated Burger A LLC and Consolidated Burger B LLC, indicating a broader impact on the company’s operational structure in the region. The immediate future of the locations remains uncertain as restructuring efforts will proceed through the bankruptcy process.

Contact information for further inquiries into the specifics of the bankruptcy case has not been disclosed, but industry analysts will likely monitor the development closely. Given the trend of corporate bankruptcies in the restaurant sector, the consolidation and reorganization of franchise operations could reshape the competitive landscape in Florida and Georgia.