Jamie’s Italian calls in administrators

By Lisa Riley

Published: 21 May, 2019

Jamie Oliver’s restaurant empire is at the brink of collapse, with the group having called in the administrators putting up to 1,300 jobs at risk.

The company, which includes 23 Jamie’s Italian outlets alongside the Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants, has confirmed it has appointed KPMG as administrators of its UK business.

The international part of the group, as well as Fifteen Cornwall, which operates under a franchise, were unaffected, said the business.

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.”

First reported by Sky, the news follows the business having faced difficulties over the past two years, with a number of Jamie's Italian and Barbecoa restaurants closing down.

In 2017, he closed the last of his Union Jacks restaurants and also shut his food magazine Jamie after almost 10 years.

Last year, the chain was only saved from bankruptcy by a£13 million investment from Oliver, part of almost £17 million of new funding provided to keep the restaurants going.

Printer friendly version