Despite a tumultuous year that has seen the brand close eight stores in six months, heritage franchise Hog’s Breath may be on the road to recovery.

New franchisee Paul Turner took the reins at Hog’s Glenelg restaurant in Adelaide over the weekend. Turner vowed to reopen under new management and rehire a number of staff members affected by the store’s closure earlier this year.

The restaurant is set to reopen in late July, with the new staff comprising of a mixture of previous Hog’s Breath Glenelg and Holden Hill front and back-of-house workers.

Former army veteran and career corporate Turner said his experience with technology implementation made him the ideal man to steer the Hog’s Breath reopening, despite having limited franchising experience.

“Hog’s has been a staple in my and my family’s life for years now,” said Turner. “When I heard Glenelg was closing, I knew I had to do something.”

It’s a positive step forward for Hog’s Breath, which has been hit hard by thin margins and an evolving food landscape.

Back in May, Hog’s Breath CEO Ross Worth described the current landscape as “unquestionably the toughest environment” the brand had faced in its 30-year history.

“In addition to a decrease in spending, we’ve also had to adapt to completely new customer eating habits with the arrival of UberEats and other food delivery services,” Worth said.

Hog’s Breath Glenelg

Reopening the Glenelg store confirms Hog’s stance on rebuilding its network, with the brand committing to an extensive franchisee training program for Turner and his new staff.

As a result, the new franchisee and his outlet manager Allirra Chaunut have spent a wealth of time at Hog’s head office in Cleveland, Queensland.

Turner admits that while it’s still an uphill battle returning the business to its former glory, he is more than up for the fight.

“I’m excited to take on the challenge of reopening Hog’s Glenelg”, said Turner. “My hope is that we can find our way back into the hearts of locals and find some new fans, as well.”

As part of the Hog’s Breath reopening, the Glenelg outlet will undergo a major refresh, starting first with the fundamentals. Turner also revealed that the restaurant’s interior design elements, including floors and paint would be revamped to improve customer experience.

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