Jenny Craig Australia goes into administration

The Melbourne-founded business last week filed for bankruptcy in the United States, closing its North American corporate offices and stopping operations.

A representative at the time said the decision would not affect local services but FTI Consulting was appointed to lead the voluntary administration on Tuesday.

FTI Consulting confirmed its team of Vaughan Strawbridge, Kate Warwick and Joseph Hansell had been appointed as voluntary administrators of Jenny Craig's Australian and New Zealand companies.

The administrators intend to continue to trade the companies while they explore options to restructure.

"It is unfortunate where an overseas parent company enters bankruptcy and impacts the local business, in particular, where they are operated independently to each other," Mr Strawbridge said.

"We are working with the Australian and New Zealand leadership team to trade the businesses with a view to attracting new capital to restructure. Interest has already been received.

"We will be working with those parties and stakeholders of the business to secure the ongoing business and provide clarity to its loyal and committed staff and customers as soon as possible."

Jenny Craig was founded in Melbourne in 1983 and grew to become a household name as one of the biggest weight management companies in the world.

It has about 600 centres globally with more than 500 locations in North America.

Its main services consist of one-on-one personalised support with nutrition and lifestyle planning.

Various celebrities have been featured as ambassadors over the years including singer Mariah Carey and former Spice Girl Mel B (Melanie Brown).

Locally, comedian Magda Szubanski and the late Barry Humphries and his alter ego Dame Edna Everage were also ambassadors.

Private equity investment firm H.I.G. Capital bought Jenny Craig in 2019 for an undisclosed sum.

Australian Associated Press