The tile-maker is closing down its four companies as it goes into administration.
Major UK kitchen supplier goes bust with ALL jobs lost after half a century
A major UK kitchen supplier has gone bust with ALL jobs lost after half a century. The tile-maker is closing down its four companies as it goes into administration.
Ceramique Internationale Ltd based in Leeds, Bedford based Rowmarl Ltd and Spectrum Tiles Ltd and Euxton Tile Supplies Ltd, both based in Euxton, Lancashire have all collapsed.
All four firms operated as separate legal entities under the Earle Group and Full Circle Group. Christopher Ratten and Matthew Haw of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory were appointed as joint administrators on October 27, according to a statement from the kitchen firm, which was issued this week.
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It comes after tiles retailer Fired Earth was forced to shut all of its high street stores after collapsing into administration.
The group’s 20 UK showrooms, in wealthy areas such as London’s New Kings Road and Islington, have been closed and 133 employees made redundant following the appointment of administrators at Leonard Curtis on Wednesday.
Administrators said the collapse followed years of pressure at the company. Dane O’Hara, from Leonard Curtis, said: “Fired Earth has been loss-making for some time.”
He said its owner, construction entrepreneur Simon Lousada, had provided substantial loans in recent years to keep the business afloat.
Administrators said Fired Earth had continued to rack up losses despite the cash injections.
In its most recent financial year, Fired Earth recorded a £1.7m loss, blaming cost pressures and wage inflation. It said it was operating in a “particularly challenging market”.
Mr O’Hara said: “Its investor was not prepared to provide further funding in the absence of a viable turnaround strategy.”
Leonard Curtis said Fired Earth’s warehouse in Banbury and its head office would remain open to fulfil existing customer orders.
It said it was holding talks to sell the company’s assets, although any deal would not include staff.