90 Yorkshire jobs lost or at risk despite retailer’s deal with administrators

THE collapse of shoe retailer Brantano has cost 39 jobs and another 54 remain at risk in Yorkshire despite a deal that will see the former owner take back most of the chain.

Alteri Investors has secured 140 of the 200 outlets and preserved 1,372 jobs nationwide, of which six stores and 68 jobs are in the region.

It comes just four months after Alteri bought the distressed retailer as part of a £12m deal from Dutch-based Macintosh Retail Group, but was forced to appoint Tony Barrell, Mike Jervis and Rob Hunt of PwC as joint administrators of Brantano UK on January 21.

At that point there were 2,000 staff working for Brantano, including 167 in fourteen Yorkshire stores.

PwC deals partner Robert Moran led the sales process and said Alteri’s offer was the best outcome despite “interest from a number of parties, both trade and private equity”.

He added: “We are delighted that 1,372 jobs have been preserved through the transaction and thank the Brantano team for working closely and collaboratively with us throughout what has been a difficult period for the business.”

Six stores in Catterick, Hull Analby, Hull Kingswood, Scarborough, Sheffield Heeley, and Wakefield have been bought by Alteri, saving 68 jobs.

58 stores and concessions have not been included in the Alteri acquisition and the administrators will continue to trade these stores whilst discussions with other parties continue. The six Yorkshire stores with uncertain futures are in Barnsley, Bradford, Keighley, Rotherham, Selby and York. 

Stores at Leeds Seacroft, Guiseley, and Doncaster Wheatley have been permanently closed with the loss of 32 jobs. Seven jobs have been skimmed off six of the other Yorkshire sites. 

Lead administrator Mr Barrell said: “We continue to trade the remaining Brantano business whilst discussions with interested parties continue. Unfortunately, in the event further sales are not possible, redundancies will become inevitable.”