Syrian restaurant chain My Tannour in financial trouble

Brussels-based Syrian restaurant chain My Tannour has entered judicial reorganisation as it attempts to stabilise its finances after several difficult years.

The company, which operates several restaurants across Brussels and one in Ghent, requested the legal procedure in mid-February.

The move is intended to give the business time to reorganise its finances and repay accumulated debts while continuing operations.

According to the company’s management, the main financial pressure comes from tax debts that built up during the Covid crisis.

Rising costs for energy and raw materials have further strained the business in the last few years.

Damiano Fersini, co-owner of the restaurant, stressed that the company is not facing immediate bankruptcy.

“Covid has left a huge hole in our coffers,” Fersini told L’Echo. “We have few debts to our suppliers and no debts to our employees. We're not on the verge of bankruptcy, but we're strategically using a legal tool to gain breathing room to pay off our tax debts.”

Founded in 2018 by Fersini and Georges Baghdi Shar, MyTannour quickly expanded with restaurants in areas including Bourse, Flagey, Saint Gilles, Merode and other locations in Brussels, as well as recently expanding to Ghent.

As part of the restructuring plan, the chain plans to broaden its offering to attract more customers throughout the day. New menu items, including Middle Eastern drinks and additional dishes, are expected to complement its existing Syrian menu.

The aim is to generate revenue beyond the traditional lunch and dinner rush and better cover fixed operating costs.

Financial difficulties have also forced the group to put some expansion plans on hold. A planned restaurant in Namur has been postponed, despite negotiations previously being well advanced.

The owners hope the reorganisation will allow the chain to recover financially and return to growth within the next 18 months, potentially with the support of a new investor.

For now, My Tannour’s restaurants remain open as the company works to restructure and adapt its business model in a challenging market.