The jobs of more than 1000 employees are at risk now as the restaurant group set up by famous celebrity chef Jamie Oliver collapses into administration.
A few reports state that the chef’s Jamie’s Italian chain and other of his venues have appointed KPMG in order to tackle an insolvency procedure.
The step puts the jobs of nearly 1,300 employees at risk as well as is a major blow to the TV chef whose entrepreneurial zeal and style has helped him earn a massive fortune in the past 20 years.
According to sources, the administration process shall include Mr Oliver’s rest of the Barbecoa sites and also Fifteen London which was launched right after the chef climbed to fame via his TV show, The Naked Chef.
The insolvency procedure would most likely not include HSBC bank which is the restaurant group’s principal bank lender. Meanwhile, two of Jamie’s Italian restaurants as well Jamie Oliver’s Diner would continue to operate as normal for now while the administrators inquire into options for the restaurants.
Notably, Mr Oliver, who is currently ‘devastated’ with his chain of restaurants going into administration, isn’t the only victim of the harsh trading environment prevailing in the United Kingdom. Previously this year, cafe group Patisserie Valerie also collapsed into administration, with 70 of its outlets closed and a loss of around 900 jobs, though 96 of its outlets were saved.