Owner of Brio, Bravo Restaurants Files Chapter 11 Amid Virus

FoodFirst Global Restaurants Inc., owner of Italian restaurant chains Brio Italian Mediterranean and BRAVO Fresh Italian, is the latest to seek bankruptcy reorganization in part because of shutdowns necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

FoodFirst and seven affiliates filed Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida April 10, intending to pursue a sale.

The two chains, which had 110 locations in 32 states, underperformed after being acquired by FoodFirst in 2018. Revenue dropped from more than $400 million in 2017 to about $307 million last year, the company said.

Then the current health scare “radically ...