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Hanna and Browne go into administration | Hanna and Browne go into administration |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A well-known home furnishings chain in Northern Ireland has been placed into administration after more than 110 years in business. | A well-known home furnishings chain in Northern Ireland has been placed into administration after more than 110 years in business. |
Hanna and Browne has closed its branches in Newtownards, Limavady, Lisburn and Bangor, placing a question mark over the future of 100 jobs. | Hanna and Browne has closed its branches in Newtownards, Limavady, Lisburn and Bangor, placing a question mark over the future of 100 jobs. |
The administrator said no-one had been made redundant | The administrator said no-one had been made redundant |
A decision will be made within days on whether to re-open the stores in an attempt to salvage the business. | A decision will be made within days on whether to re-open the stores in an attempt to salvage the business. |
The administrator, James Neill, said he had been appointed following a "general downturn in trading conditions, coupled with a significant change in consumer spending patterns" which, he said, had led to cash flow problems. | |
"The administrator and his staff are currently undertaking an immediate assessment of the trading and financial position of the partnership with a view to maintaining the going concern of the business," he said. | |
"Once this is complete we will have a clearer picture of future options." | |
The administrator said the immediate priority was to communicate with key stakeholders of the business including employees, customers, suppliers and landlords. | |
Hanna and Browne started as cabinet makers in Belfast more than a century ago, before shops opened specialising in giftware and electrical appliances. | Hanna and Browne started as cabinet makers in Belfast more than a century ago, before shops opened specialising in giftware and electrical appliances. |
It is now part of the family-owned Lisnasure Interiors group of companies. | It is now part of the family-owned Lisnasure Interiors group of companies. |
William Gilliland of Newtownards' Chamber of Trade said he was shocked by the closure. | William Gilliland of Newtownards' Chamber of Trade said he was shocked by the closure. |
"It's been in the town for as long as I can remember and has really been a part of the furniture of Newtownards. I'm very sad to see the closure of it. | "It's been in the town for as long as I can remember and has really been a part of the furniture of Newtownards. I'm very sad to see the closure of it. |
"We've had many reports over this past number of years about the various green shoots of recovery but I think if you talk to most retailers out on the High Street it's still a very, very difficult and very challenging business background at the moment." | "We've had many reports over this past number of years about the various green shoots of recovery but I think if you talk to most retailers out on the High Street it's still a very, very difficult and very challenging business background at the moment." |
There have been several High Street casualties of the recession, with well-known brands like HMV, Jessops and JJB Sports entering administration. | There have been several High Street casualties of the recession, with well-known brands like HMV, Jessops and JJB Sports entering administration. |
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