Ted Baker to close the rest of its shops this week putting 500 jobs at risk

Ted Baker will close the remainder of its 31 shops across the UK this week.

One of the country’s most renowned fashion brands is expected to shut all of its doors for the final time by Tuesday.

Closure of the outlets will put more than 500 jobs at risk.

See the full list of Ted Baker closures across the UK here

It comes after the firm behind Ted Baker shops in the UK, No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), went into administration in March this year.

One month later, 15 shops were closed and 245 people lost their jobs.

There were around 975 employees working at the company before Ted Baker collapsed into administration.

All 46 shops, including several in London, an e-commerce platform and department store concessions will now be scrapped.

US firm Authentic Brands Group owns Ted Baker’s intellectual property but said the ‘damage done’ during a merger with NODL was ‘too much to overcome’.

Talks to save the business had been ongoing between retail tycoon Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group and Ted Baker’s international owner Authentic but stalled three months after an agreement was thought to be imminent.

John McNamara, chief strategy and transition officer for Authentic Brands Group, previously told Fashion Network: ‘We wish that there could’ve been a better outcome for the Ted Baker employees and stakeholders.’

Ted Baker hit the headlines in 2019 after founder Ray Kelvin quit following allegations he forced female employees to sit on his lap and embrace him.

The 68-year-old, who originally formed the company in Scotland in 1988, was also accused of massaging employees and kissing their ears but always denied allegations of misconduct.

Joint administrator Benji Dymant said last month after announcing its bankruptcy: ‘Ted Baker is an iconic British brand with strong partners around the world.

‘These store closures, whilst with a regrettable impact on valued team members, will improve the performance of the business, as Authentic continues to progress discussions with potential UK and European operating partners for the Ted Baker brand to bring the business back to health.

‘We would like to thank Ted Baker team members and partners for their ongoing efforts and support at this difficult time.’

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