True Food Kitchen seeks Chapter 11 protection, cites debt and leadership turmoil

True Food Kitchen, a restaurant chain known for anti-inflammatory cuisine and backed by investors including Oprah Winfrey and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Texas court. The filing announced the immediate closure of 12 restaurants, leaving 34 locations operating in 14 states. Documents reveal roughly $42 million in debt and attribute the collapse to extensive management turnover, frequent changes to expansion plans, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foot traffic.

The company’s court papers note that while many sites are still profitable, several have struggled with reduced vehicle traffic and shifting market demographics. The chain was founded in 2008 by wellness author Andrew Weil and restaurateur Sam Fox, later spun off as FRC Balance, LLC. Oprah Winfrey, who invested and served on the board, is now a minority investor. CEO Jeff Chandler described the bankruptcy as the best route to simplify operations and concentrate on delivering health-forward food and hospitality.