UK's biggest butcher's chain calls in the administrators
Dewhurst, the UK's biggest chain of butchers, has called in the administrators, blaming intense competition from the supermarkets and significant increases in costs.

It has closed 60 branches and enlisted administrator BDO Stoy Hayward to sell the remaining 35 stores.

Dewhurst's parent company, meat producer Lloyd Maunder, announced that it could no longer justify investing the amounts needed to support the operation.

In a statement, Lloyd Maunder blamed rising rent and energy prices and worsening conditions on the high street, citing a significant decrease in like-for-like sales for the early part of this year.

The directors said: 'Despite our best efforts and the application of experience gained in running our own chain of butcher's shops, the recent trading conditions have proved to be much worse than we had anticipated.'

Dewhurst employs 400 staff across the UK.

In the late 1970s, Dewhurst operated 1,400 butcher's shops in Britain, compared with 95 today.

Topics