Administrators cull Comet jobs while trying to find buyer

Administrator Deloitte announced 330 job losses, but said there had been no redundancies among shop staff and all Comet’s 236 stores remained open.

Most staff cuts have been made at Comet’s head office in Rickmansworth, Herts, as well as its site in Hull, where the chain was founded 80 years ago, and a call centre in Clevedon, Somerset.

Deloitte added that it was holding talks with several potential buyers for Comet, which collapsed into administration a week ago.

Joint administrator Neville Kahn said: “We are in discussions with a number of parties who have expressed interest in parts of the business and we continue to work hard to preserve jobs.”

Deloitte added it was seeing record levels of trade after launching a sale across Comet stores.

They had suspended gift cards from being used in stores last weekend, but this was lifted earlier this week for vouchers purchased and paid for in full by members of the public.

Comet’s collapse marks one of the biggest high street casualties since Woolworths’ demise in 2008 and came a month after JJB Sports failed.

The group was hit by weak high street trading conditions, competition from online rivals and being unable to secure the trade credit insurance needed to safeguard suppliers.

It was also knocked by fewer first-time home buyers, who had been key customers.