Pumpkin Patch, the children’s clothing retailer trading from 36 stores, has brought in Deloitte to act as its administrator.
On its appointment Deloitte made five store closures with 60 redundancies. The affected stores are in Cambridge, Cheshire Oaks, Swindon, Leeds and Uxbridge.
The reminder of the stores are still trading while options are explored for the troubled business, which had “suffered as a result of the unprecedented and prolonged downturn being experienced in the UK retail sector,” Deloitte said.
Based in New Zealand, the administration process only affects the UK operations, and not its online business.
Daniel Butters from Deloitte said to the BBC: “We encourage all parties to remain supportive while we continue to trade the business, thus providing the best possible platform for us to preserve jobs and value for all creditors.”
Established in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand by Sally Synnott a former children’s wear buyer, the firm operates 200 shops with 3,000 employees across four countries. Pumpkin Patch’s first British shop opened in Bromley, Kent in 2000.
Pumpkin Patch sells clothing for newborns and up to 16-year-old teenagers, as well as for expectant mums.
