Celebrations Holdings Group, the gift card retailer with fascias including Card Warehouse and Cardfair, has gone into administration.

Kroll Corporate Advisory & Restructuring Group has been appointed administrators to the 288 store chain, which has 1,800 staff.

Kroll said that the Peterborough-based retailer hit the buffers because of “cash flow difficulties, having experienced challenging trading conditions and ever-increasing competition within the retail industry”.

Kroll partner Peter Saville, who is working with Simon Appell and Anne O’Keefe on the account, said that it was “business as usual” for Celebrations Group and that it would continue to trade while Kroll explores options for the business.

He said: “These stores are situated in excellent retail locations and we will be working with management, employees and other stakeholders over the coming months in the hope of securing the future of the business, despite the harsh trading environment being experienced by all retailers at present.

“We fully appreciate that this is a concerning time for employees and we will keep all stakeholders as fully appraised as possible.”