Ed’s Easy Diner sold in pre-pack deal – but two East Mids restaurants close

Two restaurants in the East Midlands are set to close despite a pre-pack deal being clinched to save a third.

Ranjit Boparan, the food entrepreneur, has made another eye-catching purchase buying 33 Ed’s Easy Diner restaurants – including an outlet in Nottingham’s Intu Victoria Centre.

Meanwhile, the branches at Intu Derby and the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester are to close.

The deal to save 33 restaurants and the Ed’s East Diner head office will save around 700 jobs. However, the closure of 26 diners will means 379 redundancies.

In a statement, Giraffe’s managing director Tom Crowley said: “Ed’s Easy Diner has been an integral part of the UK casual dining scene for the past four decades and we are very excited about the business joining the group and the opportunities ahead.”

Rob Croxen, partner at KPMG, said: “While we are pleased the transaction preserves around 700 jobs, our immediate priority in the coming days will be to liaise with those employees who have been affected by redundancy and ensure that in addition to receiving all back pay owed, they are provided with any assistance they need.”

Boparan, who is the owner of 2 Sisters Food Group and Harry Ramsden’s, bought Bernard Matthews last month and Giraffe restaurants in June.

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