Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[Peter Sarf]

My last role in Safeway was stock management - SM3 was the system that was used. It was more or less fully automatic and, as long as accurate stock counts were kept, it ran fairly smoothly.

I transferred from a part-time job in a mainstream store to a full-time contract in a smaller, recently-converted, Presto store. Despite the shop being less than a mile away from where I began, there was a separate regional manager and a completely different culture.

Ah Presto. Last used by me late 1982 in Kings Heath, Birmingham until I moved back South - out of interest when did Presto cease ?.

As for culture - I remember the culture in the Tescos I worked in as an A'Level student. Made me determined not to shop in Tescos for many years.

 

[Djgr]

Unimetals Recycling which has 27 sites and 650 staff has filed for compulsory administration (liquidation) after failing to find a buyer

Hundreds of jobs at risk as Unimetals enters liquidation | TheBusinessDesk.com

Winding down is expected as early as Tuesday after efforts to secure fresh funding or a buyer collapsed

www.thebusinessdesk.com

Blimey. Even scrapheaps are going to the scrapheap.

 

[PG]

Blimey. Even scrapheaps are going to the scrapheap.

Will we see them followed by undertakers going under...

 

[styles]

Will we see them followed by undertakers going under...

Shortly followed by slaughterhouses going to the slaughter.

 

[EdinRH]

Ah Presto. Last used by me late 1982 in Kings Heath, Birmingham until I moved back South - out of interest when did Presto cease ?.

As for culture - I remember the culture in the Tescos I worked in as an A'Level student. Made me determined not to shop in Tescos for many years.

Presto finally ceased in 1998, according to Wikipedia.

 

[KevinBrum12]

Presto finally ceased in 1998, according to Wikipedia.

Ah Presto. Last used by me late 1982 in Kings Heath, Birmingham until I moved back South - out of interest when did Presto cease ?.

As for culture - I remember the culture in the Tescos I worked in as an A'Level student. Made me determined not to shop in Tescos for many years.

The Presto store in Kings Heath, Birmingham. has been through several owners since 1982. It became a Safeway in 1985 (?), got bumped into Morrisons as part of their mid 1995 takeover but was sold to Somerfield for a time before they sold/ordered to sell a batch pf stores to Co-Op. The Presto Kings Heath is now an Asda.

 

[pdq]

Black Sheep Brewery looks to be teetering.
They've put the attached announcement on Facebook and other socials.

"You may have seen several headlines or rumours that Keystone Brewing Group has gone into administration. Let us be clear: that is not the case,” the statement read.

“We have filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator, which is a protective measure that allows us to keep trading as normal while we secure new investment or explore a potential sale.

“It gives us the breathing space we need to protect our people, our brands, and our customers. We’re still brewing. We’re still delivering. We’re still here.”

 

[Kumquat]

ZipCar are planning to close in the UK at the end of the month.

"I’m writing to let you know that we are proposing to cease the UK operations of Zipcar and have today started formal consultation with our UK employees.

  We will temporarily suspend bookings, pending the outcome of this consultation. This means it will not be possible to make any new bookings beyond 31st December 2025, pending the outcome of the consultatio
n."

Very sad, as they'd just got to the point of being really useful, especially with Flex tariffs, before poorly-maintained vehicles starting being problems over the last couple years. I believe Avis took them over, around then.

 

[DelW]

ZipCar are planning to close in the UK at the end of the month.

"I’m writing to let you know that we are proposing to cease the UK operations of Zipcar and have today started formal consultation with our UK employees.

  We will temporarily suspend bookings, pending the outcome of this consultation. This means it will not be possible to make any new bookings beyond 31st December 2025, pending the outcome of the consultatio
n."

Very sad, as they'd just got to the point of being really useful, especially with Flex tariffs, before poorly-maintained vehicles starting being problems over the last couple years. I believe Avis took them over, around then.

There's a discussion about that in the Other Transport forum:

Zipcar to close UK operations

Just received an email from them ... must say it came as a bit of a surprise (to me at least). Article on The Guardian: Zipcar, world’s biggest car-sharing company, to close UK operation

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

And because the group head office was Bradford, it meant the Safeway people tended to be the ones that left, so Morrisons were left with a business they couldn't run properly and they'd binned the people that knew how.

Indeed. I once met the ex Wine buyer for Safeway. He had been made redundant in the Morrisons take over, and had used his redundancy money to buy a wine school in Languedoc. I have never seen someone enjoy their job and life so much.

 

[Mojo]

Folks, there is already a 'Supermarkets' thread which has been long running. Just a reminder this thread is about companies you may expect to disappear soon.

 

[johntea]

LEON is in trouble

I believe the branch just outside Manchester Piccadilly is already gone, can't see locations such as Leeds station lasting too long either with the rates they must be charged to be in such spots!

Didn't know the Asda brothers bought it at one point

Hundreds of jobs at risk as LEON moves to cut unprofitable restaurants

The announcement leaves the natural food-focused chain's 1,100 staff fearing for their jobs beyond Christmas.

news.sky.com

The fast food chain LEON has taken a swipe at "unsustainable taxes" while moving to secure its future through the appointment of an administrator, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk.

The loss-making company, bought back from Asda by its co-founder John Vincent in October, said it had begun a process that aimed to bring forward the closure of unprofitable sites. It was to form part of a turnaround plan to restore the brand to its roots around natural foods.


It was unclear at this stage how many of its 71 restaurants - 44 of them directly owned - and approximately 1,100 staff would be affected by the plans for the so-called Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

 

[Djgr]

LEON is in trouble

I believe the branch just outside Manchester Piccadilly is already gone, can't see locations such as Leeds station lasting too long either with the rates they must be charged to be in such spots!

Didn't know the Asda brothers bought it at one point

Hundreds of jobs at risk as LEON moves to cut unprofitable restaurants

The announcement leaves the natural food-focused chain's 1,100 staff fearing for their jobs beyond Christmas.

news.sky.com

Alas retail requires more than skills in creative financial engineering.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Alas retail requires more than skills in creative financial engineering.

At least it does after the first couple of years

 

[Furrball]

Brewdog

Vulture capitalist TSG have registered charges on various assets including the brewery in Ellon just a few months after Brewdog borrowed another 20million from them

 

[GusB]

Brewdog

Vulture capitalist TSG have registered charges on various assets including the brewery in Ellon just a few months after Brewdog borrowed another 20million from them

It seems that Brewdog has been in a bit of trouble for a while, closing various pubs:

Brewdog to close 10 pubs across UK, some 'within days'

Brewdog said the "difficult decision" had been taken as a result of "ongoing industry challenges".

www.bbc.co.uk

Scottish craft beer giant Brewdog is to close 10 bars across the UK, including its flagship pub in Aberdeen.
Trade union Unite criticised the move and said some of the pubs would shut "within days".
The bars earmarked for closure are in Aberdeen, Dundee, Leeds, Brighton, Oxford, Sheffield, York and three in London.
The Scottish brewery and pub group was founded by fishermen James Watt and Martin Dickie in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, in 2007.
A spokesperson for Brewdog said the "difficult decision" had been taken as a result of "ongoing industry challenges".
They added these included "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures".
The spokesperson said: "Despite our best efforts, and the hard work of our teams, it has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable.
"This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus for long-term and profitable growth."
The spokesperson acknowledged some of the locations chosen were "woven into" the company's' history.
But they said there was "no realistic prospect of making these venues commercially viable".

Its latest ad campaign is ruffling a few feathers, too:

BrewDog facing backlash over new 'commercial suicide' ad campaign

Posts on social media promoting the new IPA campaign were met with backlash from suicide prevention advocates.

news.stv.tv

BrewDog is facing backlash after a new ad campaign used the phrase “commercial suicide”.

The craft beer giant, launching a new Punk IPA recipe, used the tagline “tastes like commercial suicide” on billboards across the country.

Said to be a direct quote from the company’s head of procurement, posts on social media promoting the campaign were met with backlash from suicide prevention advocates.

Promotion for the campaign read: “Today we’re launching the new Punk IPA recipe across the UK: cleaner, brighter and punchier than ever.

“Our nationwide campaign is live now, with bold OOH across London and Manchester carrying the line: ‘Tastes like commercial suicide’.

“A direct quote from our Head of Procurement – and honestly, fair.”

Kenny Stewart, head of public affairs and communications at SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), said: “Suicide is not a punchline. It’s a tragedy. It’s good to talk more openly about suicide, but not like this.”

A spokesperson for Suicide Prevention Scotland added: “This is a hugely disappointing, entirely inappropriate advert.

“Mocking suicide is neither clever nor funny and adds to the stigma and distress people impacted by suicide feel, and can cost lives.

“Talking about suicide is the best way to prevent i,t and everyone has a part to play.

“We would encourage business leaders to use their influence responsibly to reduce rather than add to suicide related stigma.”

BrewDog has been contacted for comment.

 

[cactustwirly]

Problem is Brewdog is very expensive for what is very average beer

 

[styles]

BrewDog also suffers from having been a pioneer in a market which has expanded massively and in which the customers value diversity and trying new products. Anyone I know who is into craft beer seems into samping a different beer almost every time they pick up a can. Not to say BrewDog don't come out with new beers, but it's a far cry now from when Punk IPA was one of only half a dozen craft beers in the supermarket.

I'm not even sure the scandals their owners/founders were involved in really affected them. I just think they had a good run then the market decided they wanted 40 smaller craft producers instead of one big one.

 

[Cross City]

Brewdog

And not a single tear would be shed.

 

[jon0844]

And not a single tear would be shed.

I'd probably have a beer to celebrate the downfall of a pretty nasty company (albeit the founder not being so involved now, but I believe still on the board). It wouldn't be Brewdog beer of course.

 

[Peter Sarf]

BrewDog also suffers from having been a pioneer in a market which has expanded massively and in which the customers value diversity and trying new products. Anyone I know who is into craft beer seems into samping a different beer almost every time they pick up a can. Not to say BrewDog don't come out with new beers, but it's a far cry now from when Punk IPA was one of only half a dozen craft beers in the supermarket.

I'm not even sure the scandals their owners/founders were involved in really affected them. I just think they had a good run then the market decided they wanted 40 smaller craft producers instead of one big one.

Speaking as an ale drinker. It is true - I like to try most things new. With Brewdog I just was not a fan of the taste. I suppose the adverts might make me try Brewdog but I felt disappointed with the reality.

There is often an attraction for many with a small and growing company and/or product - its uniqueness. BUT once it has grown big and successful it is no longer "unique" really. At that point said company needs to move on to surviving in the mature market. Eventually other small and growing companies snapping at their heels !.

 

[Nym]

Clayton Equipment - UK manufacturer of locomotives is appointing administrators. I have heard.

And here is a link to a news article.

Historic rail engineering firm alerts administrators | TheBusinessDesk.com

Locomotive manufacturer seeks protection from creditors after losses and falling headcount

www.thebusinessdesk.com

Will be a shame to see a small business like this go, but in all honesty, there's a lot of history there that isn't particularly positive on the engineering side.

 

[Steddenm]

TGI Fridays have entered administration again.

Chain with 49 restaurants and bars 'in administration' - full list

Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators for the second time in two weeks but insisted Christmas bookings 'will be honoured'

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators for the second time in two weeks but insisted Christmas bookings 'will be honoured'

 

[Leyland Bus]

TGI Fridays have entered administration again.

Chain with 49 restaurants and bars 'in administration' - full list

Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators for the second time in two weeks but insisted Christmas bookings 'will be honoured'

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

I thought they'd already gone must be the final throes then surely?

 

[Steddenm]

I thought they'd already gone must be the final throes then surely?

They were saved from administration last time with some restaurant closures. Was in Morrisons earlier and the TGI Fridays branded meals have also been removed from the shelves. Store staff said they were ordered to yesterday.

 

[SuspectUsual]

They were saved from administration last time with some restaurant closures. Was in Morrisons earlier and the TGI Fridays branded meals have also been removed from the shelves. Store staff said they were ordered to yesterday.

That's a bit spooky. We were in Morrison's in Ripon yesterday and I happened to see the TGI's branded Tex/Mex stuff and we both said I wonder what'll happen to that when TGI's go bust again in the new year. Looks like I was a fortnight late in my prediction

 

[jon81uk]

TGI Fridays have entered administration again.

Chain with 49 restaurants and bars 'in administration' - full list

Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators for the second time in two weeks but insisted Christmas bookings 'will be honoured'

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Last time I went the food was expensive and not worth the price as it wasn't anything special.
Cocktails were good though.

 

[david1212]

The Original Factory Shop chain is reported to be on the brink of administration.

To be honest I'm surprised they have lasted this long. My local store in what was the Woolworths unit is never busy with browsers never mind customers at the checkout when I occasionally wander in, even Saturday afternoon. Before Christmas there was a sign above that premises were available so I presumed TOFS had not renewed or terminated the lease on this store.

The same report also states Claire's. I actually thought they had already totally gone rather than that Modella Capital had bought around half of the stores last September.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...e-original-factory-shop-collapse-jobs-modella

The retailers Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop are on the brink of administration, putting 2,550 jobs at risk.
Both chains are owned by Modella Capital, a private equity firm, which recently bought the high street arm of WH Smith – renamed TG Jones. Modella said in a statement that the climate on UK high streets was “extremely challenging” and data suggested “an alarming drop-off in pre-Christmas footfall”.

It said administration was the “only option” for both Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop, and it had started insolvency proceedings for both chains.

 

[DavidGrain]

TSB Bank is expected to disappear being absorbed into Santander. Actually when it was hived off from Lloyds I expected to be taken over sooner than this.

 

[m0ffy]

TSB Bank is expected to disappear being absorbed into Santander. Actually when it was hived off from Lloyds I expected to be taken over sooner than this.

Current owners, Sabadell, had an extremely painful experience integrating and upgrading TSB’s legacy IT systems. IIRC, many customers were locked out of TSB accounts due several days after the cutover.