Restaurant chain Carluccio's has entered administration, putting approximately 2,000 jobs at risk, after challenging trading conditions on the high street were exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.
Joint administrators from advisory firm FRP have been appointed to explore options including a sale of all or parts of the group, and said that the primary purpose of the move is to rescue the company.
"We are operating in unprecedented times and the issues currently facing the hospitality sector following the onset of COVID-19 are well documented," said Geoff Rowley, joint administrator and partner at FRP, referring to the disease caused by coronavirus. "In the absence of being able to continue to trade Carluccio's, in the short term, we are urgently focused on the options available to preserve the future of the business and protect its employees."
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
British finance minister Rishi Sunak has announced a package of measures to support businesses and workers through the coronavirus crisis, including a scheme to pay 80% of the wages of furloughed employees.
Carluccio's administrators said that they will use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough most of Carluccio's 2,000 workers while they assess the options.
Company Origin And Affected Restaurants
Italian chef and television personality Antonio Carluccio opened the first Carluccio's outlet as a food shop in 1991 before he opened a restaurant under the brand in 1999. Carluccio died in 2017.
There are 71 Carluccio restaurants across the UK and Ireland that are affected by the administration. The Middle Eastern Carluccio franchise business is not included.
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