Administrators
This coverage explores the pivotal role of administrators in the UK retail landscape — from corporate restructuring and insolvency proceedings to business recovery and turnaround strategies. Retail Sector reports on high-profile administrations, creditor processes, and store closures affecting major retail brands, high streets, and shopping centres. Coverage also includes expert analysis of the financial, operational, and legal factors that lead to administration, as well as insights into how these events reshape competition, employment, and supply chains across the sector. Our editorial provides professionals with the context and intelligence needed to navigate financial distress and transformation within the retail market.
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Feb- 2020 -19 FebruaryHigh Street
Beales to shutter 11 remaining stores
The administrators of Beales have announced the plans to close the department store chain’s remaining 11 stores and associated stock liquidation. The company entered administration in January, and joint administrators Will Wright and Steve Absolom from KPMG, said no “deliverable offers have been received for the business to date”. In…
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3 FebruaryDepartment Stores
Beales slashes 32 head office roles following administration
Embattled department store chain Beales has announced 32 job cuts at its head office in Bournemouth, nearly two weeks after the group entered administration. KPMG said the joint administrators will be “providing support to those affected over the coming days”. However, KPMG confirmed that all of the chain’s stores remain…
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3 FebruaryHigh Street
Hawkin’s Bazaar confirms final stores closures
Embattled retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar confirmed its final store closures over the weekend as part of its administration process. The joint administrators of Hawkin’s Bazaar Limited, Tom Straw and Simon Thomas of Moorfields Advisory Limited, revealed that all of its stores were to close after the weekend of 2 February. Straw,…
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Jan- 2020 -30 JanuaryElectrical
Deloitte fined £1m over handling of Comet administration
‘Big Four’ accountancy firm Deloitte has been fined £925,000 for its handling of electrical goods retailer Comet’s administration in 2012. Deloitte and two of its partners, Neville Kahn and Christopher Farrington, have been sanctioned by the accountancy watchdog and have also agreed to pay the costs of the Institute of…
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24 JanuaryHigh Street
Hawkin’s Bazaar enters administration, 177 jobs at risk
Gift and toy retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar has entered administration, placing 177 jobs at risk. Tom Straw and Simon Thomas from Moorfields Advisory Ltd have now been appointed as joint administrators of the toy shop chain. Hawkin’s Bazaar was founded in 1973 and currently operates 20 stores across the UK and…
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20 JanuaryHigh Street
Gordon Brown to receive nearly £1m following Links of London collapse
Restructuring firm Gordon Brown is set to receive a near £1m payout after it helped to close down British jewellery brand Links of London. According to a report by the Telegraph on Sunday, the firm assisted by selling “leftover” earrings, bracelets and necklaces. It also helped to shut the retailers…
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20 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Beales to vote on administration
Embattled department store chain Beales is on the brink of administration, with reports suggesting it will hold a meeting on whether to appoint KPMG as administrators later today (20 January). According to Sky News, the decision to appoint administrators will be held while the company still searches for a buyer.…
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15 JanuaryHigh Street
22,000 retail jobs lost in 2019 due to administrations
Almost 22,000 retail jobs were lost in 2019, according to new data from specialist finance broker firm ABC Finance. Some 1147 retail premises closed during the year, with the firm explaining that the most common causes for these closures included rising overheads such as rent on retail units, as well…
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13 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Beales set to ‘collapse’, 1,000 jobs at risk
Department store Beales warns it is on the brink of collapse, which will result in over 1000 jobs at risk unless it can find a new owner to buy the business. According to The Guardian, Beales has filed a notice of its intention to appoint administrators, as it considers its…
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Dec- 2019 -18 DecemberOnline & Digital
400 jobs at risk as The Book People enters administration
The Book People has entered into administration, putting 400 jobs at risk. Toby Underwood and Zelf Hussain, of PWC, have now been appointed as joint administrators of the bookseller. According to PWC, the administration is a result of the “difficult” trading environment that the business has been experiencing, combined with…
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