Over 1,000 jobs are at risk as Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire Jamie’s Italian appoints administrators.
The business said it had lined up KPMG to handle an insolvency process that will be announced later on Tuesday.
It is thought that as many as 1,300 jobs could be at risk.
I’m devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration. I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years. Jamie Oliver
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) May 21, 2019
Mr Oliver 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.
“I would also like to thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us over the last decade, it’s been a real pleasure serving you.
“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.”
In 2018 the restaurant chain, which first opened a restaurant in 2008, revealed it would close 12 sites as it struggled with debts of £71.5m.
More than 600 people lost their jobs, but Mr Oliver said that he had no choice but to restructure in order to preserve the 1,600 jobs that remain.
More news is expected later this afternoon.
