Fork Food Lab filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief Tuesday, a move aimed at keeping the business sustainable for years to come.

“The past few months have been challenging for Fork, but our members and partners have remained steadfast in their support,” said Corinne Tompkins, interim executive director of Fork Food Lab, in a written statement. “We are now entering a new chapter, proactively restructuring to move beyond day-to-day challenges and onto a definitive path toward long-term sustainability. As for the kitchen, it’s business as usual, with zero interruptions.”

The shared commercial kitchen space and food business incubator at 95-97 Darling Ave. nearly went to a foreclosure auction in January. A group of local investors led by Justin Alfond — who also owns Fork’s former headquarters on Parris Street in Portland — stepped in days before the auction to buy the property.

Alfond is now leading another investor group to help Fork Food Lab through the restructuring process, aiming to lower its debts and boost the operation’s fiscal health.

Fork Food Lab had accumulated a “significant level of debt” over the past few years that threatened its viability, according to a news release from the culinary hub. Fork will work with the court, current stakeholders and new investors to find ways to become a sustainable operation.

Fork Food Lab has said its member businesses have created 246 jobs and generated $18.6 million in sales. Fork was also named South Portland’s Business of the Year in 2024.

“This process is a strategic evolution — a way for us to shed past uncertainties and solidify our foundation as Maine’s premier food business incubator and shared manufacturing facility,” Tompkins said. “We remain committed to providing a dynamic, mission-driven resource for the farmers and food entrepreneurs who drive our local economy and food ecosystem.”