It was another torrid year for Britain’s retail industry. Thousands of high street jobs were lost in 2019 as a number of major retailers or restaurant groups collapsed into administration, including Karen Millen, Mothercare’s UK business and Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant empire. Some firms were rescued out of administration but resorted to shop closures to survive.
Retailers were under pressure from weak consumer spending, the shift to online shopping and rising costs resulting from higher business rates and the minimum wage. Fashion chains offered bigger than ever clothing discounts in the run-up to Christmas this year, slashing prices by as much as 50% to lure shoppers.
Others, such as Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, which owns chains including Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, closed stores and negotiated rent cuts by using an insolvency procedure known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), enabling them to stay in business.
December
The online and pop-up bookseller The Book People went into administration a week before Christmas, putting almost 400 jobs at risk.
The online boutique furniture brand Swoon was bought out of administration by its co-founders, Brian Harrison and Debbie Williamson.
The camera retailer Jessops called in administrators to its property arm, putting 500 jobs at risk.
Clintons, the card retailer, fell into administration but was bought by its existing owners in a pre-agreed deal that protects its 332 stores and 2,500-strong workforce.
November
Mamas & Papas fell into administration and was immediately bought back by other firms controlled by Bluegem Capital, its private equity owner. Six shops are closing with the loss of nearly 130 jobs.
Mothercare announced it is to close all 79 UK stores in “weeks or months”, putting 2,500 retail jobs at risk after collapsing into administration.
October
Regis, the owner of Supercuts hair salons, went into administration, putting 220 salons and 1,200 staff at risk.
Bonmarché had 318 stores and 2,887 employees when it collapsed. The fashion chain is still trading and is set be rescued by Peacocks, which was named by administrators as the preferred bidder in late November but at least 30 Bonmarché stores are to close with the loss of 240 jobs. Thirteen of those have been shut so far with the rest to close in the new year.
The Scottish department store chain Watt Brothers had 11 stores and 306 employees when it fell into administration. All the stores have closed and the majority of staff have lost their jobs.
With 35 stores and 350 staff, the jewellery chain Links of London went into administration but its sites are still trading to clear stock, while a buyer is sought.
Khaadi Fashion, an Asian clothing retailer founded in 2013, was bought out of administration by Weaves UK Trading, saving six of 10 stores and the majority of its 100 staff.
The Wiltshire-based Lingerie Outlet Store fell into administration but administrators sold the majority of the online retailer to LF Retail and Book Library, saving 26 jobs.
The German womenswear brand Gerry Weber closed its last six UK stores after creditors in Germany approved an insolvency plan in September.
September
Forever 21 had three stores and about 290 employees in the UK when it called in administrators. Stores are open to clear stock.
The pawnbroker chain Albemarle & Bond suddenly shut its 116 stores with the loss of about 400 jobs, even though it did not call in administrators. Albemarle sold its pledge books to rival H&T.
The Restaurant Group said it would close at least 88 of its Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito branches over the next six years, and nearly 100 more longer term.
August
Karen Millen and Coast had 32 stores and 177 concessions, employing 1,100 people, when they went into administration. All sites were closed and the vast majority of staff made redundant. The online brands were bought out by Boohoo.com.
Jack Wills had about 100 stores and 1,700 staff in the UK when it went into administration. It was bought by Sports Direct and 98 stores are still trading in the UK and Ireland.
Spudulike closed all 37 stores with the loss of about 300 jobs when it entered administration.
Tesco said it would cut 4,500 jobs at 153 high street Tesco Metro supermarkets, adding to the 9,000 roles the UK’s biggest retailer warned were at risk in January.
Laura Ashley is to shut a further 34 stores after six closures, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.
July
Waitrose is closing seven supermarkets, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk.
The supermarket chain is cutting costs amid tough conditions on the high street. However, it will have to invest heavily in its online grocery service as it prepares to end a long-term distribution deal with Ocado next year.
June
Bathstore had 132 stores and 529 staff when it went into administration in June. Homebase bought 44 stores, saving 154 jobs. The brand now trades from 28 stores.
Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia retail empire staved off collapse after winning the backing of creditors for a rescue plan that involves the closure of 50 stores and 1,000 job losses.
The Italian womenswear brand Stefanel’s UK business was placed into administration following the collapse of its parent company and shut its two London stores.
Boots said it would close 200 stores from its 2,485-strong chain in the UK to cut costs.
The Money Shop, a pawnbroking and loan firm, had 98 shops and 427 staff when it ceased trading.
More than 130 people lost their jobs after the Yorkshire Linen Company went into administration. It ran 19 stores across the north of England, selling towels, bedding and curtains.
May
The fashion retailer Select had 180 stores and 2,000 employees when it went into administration. In June, administrators carried out a CVA to close 11 stores with the loss of about 200 jobs.
All but three of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s 25 UK restaurants closed with the loss of 1,000 jobs after the business appointed administrators. The three surviving sites at Gatwick Airport were bought by the owner of Upper Crust in June.
Marks & Spencer is to close a further 72 stores, on top of the 48 it has already shut.
ProCook decided to close the Steamer Trading chain of kitchenware shops it bought out of administration in January. It will rebrand 13 stores as ProCook while the remaining eight Steamer Trading stores and its head office in Brighton will be shut down, leading to 34 job losses.
April
Debenhams had 166 stores and more than 25,000 employees when it went into administration in April. No stores closed immediately and the chain is now owned by its lenders but 19 are to close in January when the group completes a restructure expected to result in the loss of 660 jobs.
March
Pretty Green had 12 stores and about 170 employees when Liam Gallagher’s fashion outlet went into administration. All but one store and 33 concessions closed with 100 jobs lost, but 67 roles were saved when the brand was bought by JD Sports in April.
All 94 Office Outlet stores closed with the loss of 1,170 jobs after the stationery retailer went into administration.
LK Bennett had 41 stores and 500 employees when it entered administration. The brand was bought by its Chinese franchise partner, Rebecca Feng, saving 21 stores, all of the group’s concessions and 325 jobs. But more than 100 jobs were lost with the closure of 15 stores.
Better Bathrooms collapsed into administration with a loss of 325 jobs.
February
HMV was bought out of administration by the Canadian retailer Sunrise Records, saving 100 stores and nearly 1,500 jobs. However, 27 HMV and four Fopp stores closed, including the flagship Oxford Street shop, resulting in about 580 job losses.
TReds, a footwear chain, was acquired by the retail firm New Gray in February after falling into administration in late January. At the time of the deal, tReds had 21 stores and 160 jobs but since then shops in Ipswich and Canterbury have shut.
January
Patisserie Valerie had 200 cafes employing nearly 3,000 people when an accounting scandal prompted the chain to call in administrators in January. About 70 of the group’s 200 stores closed immediately with the loss of 900 jobs.
About 2,000 jobs were saved when about 100 Patisserie Valerie cafes were rescued by Causeway Capital, although more than 20 of these have since closed. Twenty-one Philpotts sandwich shops were bought by AF Blakemore & Son and four Baker & Spice cafes were bought by the Department of Coffee & Social Affairs.
