Almost 200 NW jobs axed as administrators close loss-making butchers shops

Almost 200 jobs are being axed at North West shops and depots of Rotherham-based butchers chain Crawshaw Group.

A total of 170 people are being made redundant at 17 shops, an office, and a factory across the North West after the appointment of joint administrators on November 2.

Overall, 354 people are being made redundant with the closure of 35 locations.

The appointments of Hunter Kelly and Charles King of EY’s restructuring team follow the previous announcement made by the listed-company on Wednesday, October 31, when it was advised that administrators would be appointed after several years of financial losses and the unsuccessful attempt to raise the additional investment required to fund a restructuring plan.

Crawshaw Group continues to trade from 19 stores, which remain open and are trading as normal.

The fresh meat and food-to-go retailer operated 54 stores in the North of England.

Hunter Kelly, joint administrator, said: “Crawshaw has not been immune to the well documented issues on the high street, which has resulted in a number of stores becoming loss making.

“Despite the new management team’s best efforts, it was not possible to raise additional investment to restructure the business by reducing the number of high street stores and expanding its successful factory shop format and instore SPAR butchery offering.

“As a result the group would have run out of cash due to the loss-making high street stores and, therefore, administration was necessary.”

He added: “Crawshaw’s out-of-town factory store format has proved to be successful and we are hopeful that a purchaser can be found who can take forward management’s plan for these profitable stores.

“We are continuing to trade 19 profitable stores and the Hellaby processing and distribution centre as normal and would encourage interested parties to come forward.

“Unfortunately, it was necessary to immediately close 35 stores in mainly high street locations that were no longer viable, which resulted in 354 redundancies.”

Employees affected by redundancy are being offered appropriate advice and support in making claims from the Redundancy Payments Office for outstanding wages, as well as redundancy and notice pay.

They have been, or will be, paid their outstanding wages as normal.

Mr Kelly said: “It is with regret that 354 people have been made redundant.

“We hope to conclude a sale to preserve the remaining 261 jobs.”

Any parties interested in acquiring the business should contact the joint administrators.

Stores across the North West that have been closed are: Astley, Belle Vale, Birchwood, Birkenhead, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Bury, Chorley, Gorton, Hyde, Rochdale, Southport, St Helens, Stretford, Warrington and Widnes. The Astley factory and office are also being closed.