Hundreds of jobs at risk as Oddbins owner lines up administrator

Doubt has been cast over hundreds of jobs as the Walsall-based company that owns the Oddbins off-licence chain prepares to appoint administrators.

Wine merchants European Food Brokers (EFB), which has owned Oddbins since its previous collapse in 2011, has filed a notice of intention to appoint Duff & Phelps to handle an insolvency.

It said that tough conditions on the high street and economic uncertainty surrounding by Brexit were to blame.

However, the business which employs 539 people, said it was continuing to trade and hoped to seek a buyer.

In response to an enquiry by Sky News, EFB said: “The deterioration of the high street, combined with the continuing economic uncertainty surrounding the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, has resulted in an unsustainable, tough physical retail market.

“We will endeavour to continue to operate all stores as a going concern while options are assessed for the business, including a possible sale.

“We have filed a notice of intention to appoint Duff & Phelps as administrators for Wine Cellar Trading Limited, Whittals Wines Merchants 1 Limited, Whittals Wines Merchants 2 Limited and EFB Retail Limited.”

Oddbins went into administration in 2011. It had planned to restructure its debts through a company voluntary agreement but the company did not receive the full support of all its creditors.

EFB, which is run by businessman Raj Chatha, bought 37 Oddbins stores at the time through its Whittalls subsidiary.

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