Jamie's Italian restaurants ‘under threat' in restructure plans
A number of Jamie's Italian restaurants are believed to be facing closure after the group announced it is "exploring plans to restructure".
The announcement came after the restaurant chain posted a £9.9m loss last year, with The Times reporting that a company voluntary arrangement could even be under consideration.
A spokesperson for parent company, the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, said: "The Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group can confirm it is exploring plans to restructure its Jamie's Italian restaurant estate in the UK, to ensure the business is in good shape for the future.
"As part of this review, we are in conversation with our stakeholders, but no final decisions or proposals have been made at this stage.
"The review does not affect Jamie's Italian international franchises managed through Jamie's Italian International. The Jamie Oliver Media Group and the Jamie Oliver Licensing Group, which are both managed and run separately, are also unaffected."
The brand announced the closure of six Jamie's Italian restaurants in January 2017, with its parent group blaming "tough" market conditions.
It currently has 36 restaurants remaining in the UK.
It's understood the brand's international restaurants will not be affected by any closures.
The first month of 2018 has seen a number of casual dining groups close restaurants citing rising costs in a difficult market.
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Six Jamie's Italian restaurants to close>>
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