KPMG has been appointed as administrator of the 23-strong Jamie’s Italian chain, with more than 1,000 jobs at risk, including those at Paradise Street in Liverpool One. Tony McDonough reports
TV chef Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Liverpool has closed its doors following the collapse of his Jamie Oliver’s Italian chain.
KPMG has been appointed as administrator of the 23-strong Jamie’s Italian chain, with more than 1,000 jobs at risk. The company also includes the Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants in London and Jamie’s Diner at Gatwick Airport.
Oliver opened the Liverpool restaurant, in Paradise Street in Liverpool One, in 2010 and was his first outlet in the North West of England. Chairs were piled up on tables inside on Tuesday lunchtime.
It’s collapse marks the latest casualty in the UK’s fine dining market which has seen its previously rapid expansion checked by a downturn in consumer confidence. Last year the failure of Argentinian-themed restaurant chain Cau saw its outlet in Liverpool’s Castle Street shut down.
In a statement today, Jamie 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.”
The collapse of Jamie Oliver’s Italian has come as no great shock. It saw an 11% plunge in sales to £101m last year and was forced to close 12 restaurants with the loss of 600 jobs. Mr Oliver himself injected £13m into the business as part of a £17m effort to keep it afloat.
Around 25 overseas Jamie Oliver’s Italians, and Fifteen in Cornwall, all of which are run by franchisees, are unaffected by the administration.