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Jamie Oliver's empire collapses as 22 UK restaurants close Jamie Oliver's empire collapses as 22 UK restaurants close
(32 minutes later)
All but three of Jamie Oliver’s 25 UK restaurants have closed with the loss of 1,000 jobs after the business called in administrators. All but three of Jamie Oliver’s 25 UK restaurants have closed, with the loss of 1,000 jobs, after the business called in administrators.
The closures could mark the end of the celebrity chef’s UK restaurant empire, which began with the opening of Fifteen in London in 2002.The closures could mark the end of the celebrity chef’s UK restaurant empire, which began with the opening of Fifteen in London in 2002.
Only his three outlets at Gatwick airport will remain in operation as administrators seek a buyer. A further 300 jobs, mostly at the Gatwick outlets, remain at risk. Only his three outlets at Gatwick airport would remain in operation as administrators sought a buyer. A further 300 jobs, mostly at the Gatwick outlets, remained at risk.
Oliver, 43, said: “I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade. I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.Oliver, 43, said: “I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade. I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.
Jamie Oliver restaurants at risk of closing - the full listJamie Oliver restaurants at risk of closing - the full list
“We launched Jamie’s Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK high street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best-in-class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that.”“We launched Jamie’s Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK high street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best-in-class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that.”
Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, which includes 22 Jamie’s Italian outlets, plus the Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants in London and a Jamie’s Diner at Gatwick airport, appointed KPMG as administrators on Tuesday.Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, which includes 22 Jamie’s Italian outlets, plus the Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants in London and a Jamie’s Diner at Gatwick airport, appointed KPMG as administrators on Tuesday.
More than 61 overseas outlets, including 25 Jamie’s Italians as well as Fifteen in Cornwall, all of which are run by franchisees, are unaffected by the administration. The administration does not affect more than 61 overseas outlets, including 25 Jamie’s Italians, or Fifteen in Cornwall, all of which are run by franchisees.
A 10-year deal with US caterer Aramark to open franchise sites in universities, hospitals and other locations both in the UK and overseas is also unaffected. A 10-year deal with the US caterer Aramark to open franchise sites in universities, hospitals and other locations in the UK and overseas was also unaffected.
Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “The current trading environment for companies across the casual dining sector is as tough as I’ve ever seen. The directors at Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group have worked tirelessly to stabilise the business against a backdrop of rising costs and brittle consumer confidence. Will Wright, a partner at KPMG and the joint administrator, said: “The current trading environment for companies across the casual dining sector is as tough as I’ve ever seen. The directors at Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group have worked tirelessly to stabilise the business against a backdrop of rising costs and brittle consumer confidence.
“However, after a sales process which sought to bring new investment into the business proved unsuccessful, the team took the incredibly difficult decision to appoint administrators.”“However, after a sales process which sought to bring new investment into the business proved unsuccessful, the team took the incredibly difficult decision to appoint administrators.”
Wright said that all but the Gatwick outlets had been closed as there had been “insufficient funds available” to continue to trade the rest of the business.Wright said that all but the Gatwick outlets had been closed as there had been “insufficient funds available” to continue to trade the rest of the business.
“Our priority in the coming hours and days is to work with those employees who have been made redundant, providing any support and assistance they need,” he said.“Our priority in the coming hours and days is to work with those employees who have been made redundant, providing any support and assistance they need,” he said.
All restaurant staff salaries will be paid up until Tuesday according to the administrator. All restaurant staff salaries would be paid up until Tuesday, according to the administrator.
Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group had been seeking buyers in recent months after the chef decided to sell up amid heavy competition in the casual dining market that has already seen chains such as Carluccio’s, Byron Burger and Gourmet Burger Kitchen close outlets. The company had been seeking buyers in recent months after Oliver decided to sell up amid heavy competition in the casual dining market, where other chains, such as Carluccio’s, Byron Burger and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, had already closed outlets.
A boom which increased the number of chain restaurants by a quarter in five years has come to an abrupt end with about six net closures a month in the past year. In March, Britain had a total of 5,785 chain restaurants, 1.1% fewer than the same month last year, according to research by CGA and advisory firm AlixPartners. The boom which increased the number of chain restaurants by a quarter in five years has come to an abrupt end, with about six net closures a month in the past year. In March, Britain had 5,785 chain restaurants, 1.1% fewer than the same month last year, according to research by CGA and advisory firm AlixPartners.
Full service restaurants like Jamie’s Italian are bearing the brunt of the change in behaviour with sales down 6% year on year, according to market research firm Kantar. Full-service restaurants, such as Jamie’s Italian, are bearing the brunt of the change in behaviour, with sales down 6% year on year, according to the market research firm Kantar.
Simon Quirk, consumer specialist at Kantar, says that as economic and political uncertainty have dented confidence, diners have been reluctant to splash out on premium meals. They have switched towards cheaper treats at coffee shops and cafes or gone for more exciting experience such as dine-in markets or in-store cafes that are part of a whole day out. Simon Quirk, a consumer specialist at Kantar, said that as economic and political uncertainty dented confidence, diners had been reluctant to splash out on premium meals. They had switched to cheaper dining at coffee shops and cafes, or gone for more exciting experiences, such as dine-in markets or in-store cafes, that are part of a day out.
The administration of Oliver’s restaurant group comes after sales at Jamie’s Italian dived by nearly 11% last year to £101m as it closed 12 restaurants and made about 600 staff redundant. Sales at Jamie’s Italian dived by nearly 11% last year to £101m as it closed 12 restaurants and made about 600 staff redundant.
The collapse of the restaurant empire will be a blow to Oliver who got his big break when a visiting TV crew spotted him while he was working at the River Cafe in Hammersmith in 1997, leading to his own show The Naked Chef. The collapse of his restaurant empire will be a blow to Oliver, who got his big break when a visiting TV crew spotted him working at the River Cafe in Hammersmith in 1997, leading to his own show The Naked Chef.
Since then he has built a TV, publishing and restaurant empire which has had its ups and downs. He went on to build a TV, publishing and restaurant empire which has had its ups and downs.
In October 2017, his food magazine, Jamie, ceased publication after almost 10 years. The business empire slumped to a loss of nearly £20m last year, dragged down by a grim year at the restaurant chain. In October 2017, his food magazine, Jamie, ceased publication after almost 10 years. The business slumped to a loss of nearly £20m last year, dragged down by a grim year at the restaurant chain.
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