JJB Stores to Close in Norfolk & Suffolk

1 October 2012, 16:08 | Updated: 1 October 2012, 16:25

JJB Sports stores in Norfolk and Suffolk are going to be closing after administrators were called in.

Around 2,200 staff at the struggling retailer have been made redundant across the country after the administrator closed 133 stores and sold the remaining 20 to rival Sports Direct.

The stores in Norwich, Ipswich and Great Yarmouth will all be closing.

Richard Fleming, UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, commented: “Successive attempts to restructure the business, both financially and operationally, have not been enough to prevent the company falling into administration.  Unfortunately a buyer could only be found for 20 stores on a going concern basis.  All staff made redundant as a result of store closures have had their arrears of wages and holiday entitlements paid in full.  Our team of employment specialists will be supporting staff on completing redundancy forms and putting them in touch with job seeker services.  We will now be reviewing what options are available for the remainder of the business, such as selling leasehold interests.”

David McCorquodale, corporate finance partner who led the sales process, added:“In spite of the severity of financial distress suffered by the business, we spoke with over 100 parties in the first few days of our appointment; with 8 trade and private equity players tabling first round bids.  Unfortunately the level of cash and further operational restructuring required to rescue a more substantial part of the business was too much risk for most interested parties.  We hope to be able to sell the leasehold interests of some of the remaining stores, which may result in re-employment of some staff.”