After entering voluntary administration in May, it's been announced the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival will return in 2016 with founder Jim Berardo back in the driver's seat.
Berardo's Restaurant and the festival were handed over to administrators, Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants just weeks after this year's Noosa festival wrapped up. The restaurant was subsequently closed, after 16 years of oepration.
However news.com.au has reported that Jim Berardo has been successful in his bid to claim the intellectual property of the festival, which will now be run under Berardo's Festivsl Management, with Berardo as the sole director.
“It’s full speed ahead for 2016,” he said. “We’re working through things, and I’m going to make good on the creditors and pay them all off over a 23 month period.”
Berardo has just 90 days to secure sponsorship for the event, as well as participating chefs and key personnel. Tickets go on sale in December for the weekend commencing May 19 and despite its recent struggles, Berardo is confident 2016's festival will be a hit, and he expects about 30,000 attendees.
