{"id":77481,"date":"2026-08-26T22:11:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T02:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=77481"},"modified":"2026-08-26T22:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T02:11:57","slug":"great-southern-beverages-files-for-chapter-11-as-eviction-looms-for-lakeland-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/08\/26\/great-southern-beverages-files-for-chapter-11-as-eviction-looms-for-lakeland-facility\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Southern Beverages files for Chapter 11 as eviction looms for Lakeland facility"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"968b78\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"618\" height=\"444\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-26T220757.679.webp?fit=618%2C444&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77482 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #968b78; aspect-ratio:1.3919546702329837;width:493px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-26T220757.679.webp 618w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-26T220757.679-300x216.webp 300w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Great Southern Copackers LLC (operating as <strong>Great Southern Beverages<\/strong>) voluntarily filed for <strong>Chapter 11 Subchapter V bankruptcy<\/strong> on August 20, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida (Tampa Division, Case No. 8:26-bk-07442).<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The filing comes as the company attempts to restructure while facing heavy financial pressure and pending eviction at its facility located at <strong>3900 Frontage Road South<\/strong> in Lakeland, Florida.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Context &amp; Financial Headwinds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Eviction Suit:<\/strong> On June 11, property owner The Becker Organization filed an eviction lawsuit in Polk County County Court, alleging that Great Southern Beverages owed <strong>$364,118<\/strong> in back rent and property insurance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Utility Debts:<\/strong> Lakeland Electric records revealed long-standing payment delinquencies, including over <strong>$89,000<\/strong> in overdue balances on wastewater and electric accounts that led to temporary service cut-offs and warnings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operational Restructuring:<\/strong> CEO Jeremy Roberts, who acquired the former <strong>Brew Hub<\/strong> 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&#8217;s taproom space was also transitioned toward private event usage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Current Bankruptcy Case Status<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Filing Type:<\/strong> Chapter 11, Subchapter V (Small Business Reorganization).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Appointed Trustee:<\/strong> Michael C. Markham was appointed as the Subchapter V trustee on August 21, 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Deadlines:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>341 Meeting of Creditors:<\/strong> Scheduled for September 25, 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status Conference Hearing:<\/strong> Set for October 14, 2026, in Courtroom 9A, Tampa, FL.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reorganization Plan Due:<\/strong> November 18, 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Chapter 11 filing automatically triggers a <strong>stay on state court proceedings<\/strong>, temporary halting the pending eviction litigation while the company attempts to propose a court-approved repayment plan.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip; 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