A burger chain has collapsed resulting in the loss of 283 jobs..
All 19 branches of Handmade Burger Co restaurants across the country closed immediately following the news on Friday.
This is the second time the company, founded by Chris Sargeant and his two brothers in Birmingham in 2006, has collapsed.
Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery have been appointed joint administrators, Business Live reports.
Joint administrator David Griffiths said: “The casual dining market in the UK has experienced significant challenges over the last four years, largely as a result of overcapacity in the sector, which has resulted in a significant number of insolvencies.
“Sales at Handmade Burger Co. restaurants have almost halved during this period, which has proved to be unsustainable.
“It is disappointing that circumstances have meant that a sale of the business has not been possible in this case, but our focus now should be on those employees affected by this difficult news.
“We will work hard to provide them with all necessary assistance to claim for monies which remain due to them.”
Last week property company Berry was appointed to try and sell the business, which was bought out of administration by Burger Chain in 2017.
The 19 branches closed with immediate effect are in:
- Aberdeen
- Edinburgh Ocean Terminal
- Glasgow Braehead
- Glasgow St Vincent Street
- Birmingham Brindleyplace
- Birmingham Bullring
- Leicester Highcross
- Lincoln Brayford Wharf
- Peterborough
- Solihull Touchwood
- Gateshead Metrocentre
- Hull
- Leeds Trinity
- Sheffield Meadowhall
- Bath
- Bournemouth
- Reading
- Southampton West Quay
- Wembley
Last May celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was forced to close 22 of his restaurants with a loss of around 1,300 jobs.
After its collapse, his flagship London restaurant was cleared out by bailiffs.
Meanwhile, staff at a branch in Birmingham claimed they were sacked by email just 30 minutes before the announcement went public.
At the time, the celebrity chef said the experience was "very painful, very very painful."
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