A city burger joint has been saved from closure amid hundreds of job cuts nationwide following the chain's collapse.
Fears were raised that Norwich's Byron restaurant in Chantry Place Square could shut its doors after Famously Proper, which owns the firm, fell into administration.
On Wednesday, January 11, it said it would axe nine restaurants and 218 jobs but the business has confirmed today (January 13) that the Norwich branch will remain in operation.
Famously Proper’s collapse was blamed on rises in costs, such as food and utilities, as well as a reduction in consumer spending due to the current cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Winder, managing director at administrator Interpath, said: “Like many other companies across the hospitality sector, Byron had seen a boost in trading following the end of the Covid lockdown measures.
“However, the sky-high inflation seen in 2022 saw costs spiral and resulted in reduced customer spend, which in turn placed significant cashflow pressure on the business.
“We are pleased to have concluded this transaction which will see the Byron name continue to trade on high streets across the country and which, importantly, has preserved a significant number of jobs.”
The London-based chain opened in Chapelfield in 2016 with more than 60 branches across the country.
Byron also went into administration at the height of the pandemic but was taken over by private equity firm Calveton.
Administrators from Interpath Advisory were appointed today and immediately confirmed the company has been sold in a pre-pack administration to Tristar Foods, a new company linked to Calveton.
The sites set to close are:
- Bluewater shopping centre, Kent
- Chelmsford
- Edinburgh, Lothian Road
- Leeds
- London, Wembley
- Manchester
- Milton Keynes
- Salisbury
- Southampton
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