Great Southern Copackers LLC (operating as Great Southern Beverages) voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 Subchapter V bankruptcy on August 20, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division, Case No. 8:26-bk-07442).
The filing comes as the company attempts to restructure while facing heavy financial pressure and pending eviction at its facility located at 3900 Frontage Road South in Lakeland, Florida.
Key Context & Financial Headwinds
- Eviction Suit: On June 11, property owner The Becker Organization filed an eviction lawsuit in Polk County County Court, alleging that Great Southern Beverages owed $364,118 in back rent and property insurance.
- Utility Debts: Lakeland Electric records revealed long-standing payment delinquencies, including over $89,000 in overdue balances on wastewater and electric accounts that led to temporary service cut-offs and warnings.
- Operational Restructuring: CEO Jeremy Roberts, who acquired the former Brew Hub facility in 2025, had resumed blending operations in late June 2026 with 24 returning workers on a four-day schedule, following missed payroll issues in May. The former Yancey’s taproom space was also transitioned toward private event usage.
Current Bankruptcy Case Status
- Filing Type: Chapter 11, Subchapter V (Small Business Reorganization).
- Appointed Trustee: Michael C. Markham was appointed as the Subchapter V trustee on August 21, 2026.
- Key Deadlines:
- 341 Meeting of Creditors: Scheduled for September 25, 2026.
- Status Conference Hearing: Set for October 14, 2026, in Courtroom 9A, Tampa, FL.
- Reorganization Plan Due: November 18, 2026.
The Chapter 11 filing automatically triggers a stay on state court proceedings, temporary halting the pending eviction litigation while the company attempts to propose a court-approved repayment plan.
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