Hamburgini files for bankruptcy after food poisoning scandal
The mass food poisoning incident was traced to imported mayonnaise labelled “Bon Tum,” which was contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
SAUDI ARABIA – Burger chain, Hamburgini, has been ordered into liquidation after a food poisoning scandal devastated its reputation and left the business insolvent.
The Riyadh Commercial Court has directed the dissolution of Asasiyat Al-Ghitha Trading, Hamburgini’s parent company, as part of formal bankruptcy proceedings. Bankruptcy trustee Mubarak Al-Anazi confirmed the ruling, urging creditors to submit their claims within 90 days.
Launched in 2013, Hamburgini quickly captured the attention of young Saudi consumers with its affordable menu, savvy digital marketing, and strong social media footprint. Its bold branding and rapid outlet expansion transformed it into one of the Kingdom’s most prominent homegrown foodservice success stories.
Between 2015 and 2019, the company expanded aggressively across multiple regions. By 2020, Hamburgini operated dozens of outlets and was hailed by then-CEO Nawaf Al-Fawzan as the “fastest expanding restaurant brand in the Kingdom.”
At the time, the company announced plans to list 20 per cent of its shares on the Nomu parallel market, signalling ambitions for long-term growth and investment.
At its peak, Hamburgini operated 57 branches nationwide, including 29 in Riyadh, as well as outlets in Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Qassim, and Hail.
The company’s rise came to a sudden halt in mid-2024 after a mass food poisoning incident in Riyadh sickened more than 70 people and resulted in one death.
Investigators traced the outbreak to imported mayonnaise labelled “Bon Tum,” which was contaminated with the deadly Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Regulators acted quickly, ordering the closure of Hamburgini outlets in Riyadh, suspending the supplier’s operations, and recalling the unsafe product.
Despite the contamination being linked to an external source, Hamburgini received its share of consumer outrage, which affected its image as a safe and trustworthy brand, ultimately leading to its collapse almost overnight.
This triggered a steep decline in sales, leaving the company struggling to meet its financial obligations. Mounting debts, combined with reduced customer confidence, ultimately pushed Hamburgini into insolvency.
The liquidation order issued in August 2025 formally ends Hamburgini’s 12-year journey from local startup to a household name.
Once celebrated as a symbol of Saudi entrepreneurial ambition, the chain’s downfall underscores the critical importance of food safety and crisis management in sustaining consumer trust.
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