Boparan swallows stricken burger chain saving 669 jobs

Ranjit Boparan, the owner of food group 2 Sisters, is set to save 669 jobs after agreeing a rescue deal for Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK).

The West Midlands businessman will buy GBK in a pre-pack deal that will see 35 restaurants remain open – while 26 will close with the loss of 362 jobs.

It is thought that the entrepreneur, known as the ‘Chicken King’ has beaten rival burger chain Byron to the deal.

GBK is currently owned by South African-based Famous Brands. The company said earlier this year that it was withdrawing funding to the UK operation of GBK, which had operated from 62 restaurants and employed almost 1,300 people.

Gavin Maher, joint administrator at Deloitte, said: “As with a number of dining businesses, the broader challenges facing ‘bricks and mortar’ operators, combined with the effect of the lockdown, resulted in a deterioration in financial performance and a material funding requirement.”

Earlier this year Boparan rescued Carluccio’s.