Wakefield retailer Peter Jones (China) collapses into administration with the loss of 67 jobs

The company, a Wakefield-based retailer of gifts and homewares, was more than 50 years old and has 10 shops across Yorkshire and a warehouse.

It enters insolvency after a period of weak trading followed by significant cash flow pressure related to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The retailer, which has stores in Barnsley, Doncaster, Batley, Huddersfield, Castleford, Pontefract, Wakefield and Wetherby, has been closed for business since lockdown with its 70 employees on furlough.

Administrators from KPMG said 67 of these have been made redundant following the administrators’ appointment as the business will not be able to reopen and trade. The remaining staff are assisting the administrators with the winding down of the business.

Howard Smith and Dave Costley-Wood, from KPMG’s Restructuring practice, were appointed July 8.

The company’s stores have remained closed since lockdown with the vast majority of its 70 employees currently on furlough leave.