Dates set for Shrewsbury and Telford Comet store closures
Telford and Shrewsbury's Comet stores are to both close before Christmnas is was revealed today.
A spokesman for administrators, Deloitte, confirmed the Telford store on the Bridge Retail Park will close on Sunday with the loss of 16 jobs, whilst the Shrewsbury store will close on 18 December with around 30 employees being made redundant.
Deloitte said it would only keep the remaining stores open until all remaining stock is sold meaning up to 5,000 staff face redundancy nationwide.
Since Deloitte was appointed to work for the electricals chain, some 1,500 jobs have already been axed.
The administrator confirmed it was still in talks with a ‘small number’ of interested buyers, but said it was necessary to begin shutting shops in the absence of a firm offer for the whole business.
Joint-administrator Chris Farrington said: “We remain in discussions with a small number of interested parties and hope that a positive outcome can still be achieved. Should any acceptable offers be received for stores we will delay the closure process.”
He added: “We remain extremely grateful to the company’s employees for their commitment and support during a period of concern and anxiety for them.”
The collapse of Comet marks one of the biggest high street casualties since the demise of Woolworths in 2008 and came a month after the failure of JJB Sports.
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.
