Anthony's Kitchen files for insolvency

MEERBUSCH. The Michelin-starred restaurant Anthony's Kitchen in Meerbusch near Düsseldorf is insolvent. The operating company Anthony's GmbH filed for insolvency at Düsseldorf Local Court on 7 October 2024. The court appointed lawyer Georg F. Kreplin from the Düsseldorf law firm KKN as provisional insolvency administrator. The Michelin-starred restaurant was founded in 2015 by Anthony Sarpong, a German-Ghanaian star chef who has made a name for himself in the German gastronomy scene. The multi-award-winning celebrity chef is known for his creative, international cuisine and is one of the 100 best chefs in Germany. In his cuisine, Anthony Sarpong combines influences from Africa, Europe and Asia to create unique dishes.

Catering operations continue without restrictions

The restaurant in Meerbusch will continue to operate without restrictions despite the insolvency application. Anthony's Kitchen will remain open for its guests during the usual opening hours. All existing table reservations remain valid. The twelve employees have been informed about the insolvency application and the next steps. The employees' wages and salaries are initially secured by the insolvency substitute benefits. The provisional insolvency administrator Kreplin and his team are currently gaining a comprehensive picture of the economic situation on site.

As recent studies have shown, star awards often prove to be both a glory and a burden for top restaurants, and Anthony's Kitchen was confronted with a number of challenges that are not unusual for top gastronomy. High and rising operating costs for fresh, high-quality food, ingredients and flavours as well as for energy and staff and, last but not least, the high investments in an exclusive interior and ambience must be in proportion to sales. Despite high menu prices, many top restaurants, such as Anthony's Kitchen, are finding it increasingly difficult to operate profitably.

To cover the high operating costs, Michelin-starred chefs like Anthony Sarpong try to compensate for this through other sources of income, such as cookery courses, online shops, catering, events and involvement in other restaurants. Due to his involvement and participation in two other well-known restaurants, Anthony Sarpong ultimately lacked the time to concentrate on his own restaurant. "I got bogged down in the expansion of my activities. Due to the many commitments, I lost sight of my own restaurant Anthony's Kitchen a little," regrets Anthony Sarpong. Ultimately, the attempt to reduce the economic risk through his many activities failed and Anthony Sarpong had to file for insolvency for Anthony's GmbH.

Swift and sustainable solution for the future of Anthony's Kitchen

The provisional insolvency administrator Kreplin recognises the potential of Anthony Sarpong and his team of chefs, who are loyal to the star chef in these difficult times. "Anthony Sarpong is very well known in the catering industry and is a brand in his own right as a renowned Michelin-starred chef. His restaurant is very popular and his cooking is sought after far beyond the region. We will weigh up all options carefully and swiftly in order to find a viable and sustainable future solution for the Michelin-starred restaurant Anthony's Kitchen as quickly as possible with a customised concept," says provisional insolvency administrator Georg Kreplin.

Lawyer Markus Küthe from the law firm Heidemann Küthe in Düsseldorf had advised Anthony Sarpong in the run-up to his insolvency application. "My goal now is to fully focus on my own restaurant Anthony's Kitchen in the future. For me, cooking is more than just a profession. I want to redefine gastronomy and set new culinary accents that offer my guests a unique experience that will surprise and delight them time and time again," says Anthony Sarpong.