Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s and rent-to-buy retailer BrightHouse have gone into administration. 

It has been reported a total of 4,500 jobs could be at risk across the UK as a result.
Carluccio's has one of its 71 branches at the Swindon Designer Outlet, while BrightHouse has a store at Canal Walk.

Both firms said the coronavirus outbreak had worsened already challenging trading conditions.
Carluccio's, which was founded by Antonio Carluccio in 1991, confirmed it has hired advisory firm FRP to oversee its administration.

The administrators said they are speaking to “interested parties regarding the sale of all or parts of the business”.

They also plan to furlough the majority of the company’s 2,000 employees whilst they assess all available options.

Last week, staff from the chain saw their wages for the past month slashed in half as part of cost-cutting measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Chief executive Mark Jones confirmed he would not receive pay for the month as it sought to preserve cash.

Geoff Rowley, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: “We are operating in unprecedented times and the issues currently facing the hospitality sector following the onset of Covid-19 are well documented.

“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.

“We welcome the latest update on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and look forward to working with HMRC to access the support it provides for companies in administration and their employees.

“As this fast-moving situation progresses we will remain in regular communication with all employees and key stakeholders, and will provide a further update in due course.”

BrightHouse, which operates around 240 stores, appointed Grant Thornton to run the business and collect money from customers.

The business will still look after customers’ appliances until their contracts run out.
Julie Palmer, a partner at restructuring experts Bebgies Traynor, said: “Coronavirus was the final nail in the coffin for BrightHouse.

“It was already wrapped up and squeezed by payment claims against it and new regulations were having a detrimental effect to its business model.

“As soon as its stores closed due to the pandemic it looked inevitable that this business would break.”