Go Outdoors on brink of collapsing into administration with 2,400 jobs at risk
GO Outdoors is on the brink of collapsing into administration, in what would be the latest casualty to hit the UK high street.
The move could potentially put 2,400 jobs at risk across its 67 stores.
JD Sports, which owns Go Outdoors, has filed a notice of its intention to appoint administrators.
This means the company has not officially entered administration.
Go Outdoors, which sells camping equipment, bikes and clothes, was forced to close all its stores in March due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
But the outdoor activities retailer has been struggling long before the pandemic - it lost £54.9 million in the six months to August 3 last year.
Businesses in turmoil in 2019 and 2020
GO Outdoors is the latest in a long list of businesses to be facing trouble.
In 2019 and so far in 2020 we've seen:
- Jamie Oliver's "Jamie's Italian" chain go bust, alongside his Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants
- Links of London go into administration putting 350 jobs at risk
- Marks and Spencer close 35 more stores as it pushes forward with plans to axe 145 shops across the UK
- Dozens of Monsoon and Accessorize stores close
- Struggling shoe shop Office has said it "could close shops" as part of restructuring plans
- Fears Pizza Express could be next to go into administration as it "brings in emergency advisers"
- Hairdressing chain Supercuts went into administration in October 2019 putting 1,200 jobs and 220 salons at risk
- Maternity and baby retailer Mothercare collapsed into administration in November 2019 after 58 years on the high street, putting 2,500 jobs at risk
- Department store chain Beales went into administration in January 2020 with 23 shops and 1,052 jobs at risk
- High end fashion brand Ted Baker said it plans to axe 160 jobs in February 2020
- Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse said in March 2020 that it'll close all 531 standalone stores in April
- Vintage furnishing and fashion firm Cath Kidston said it was closing all 60 high street stores in March 2020
- Fashion store Animal said in April 2020 it was closing all 21 of its UK stores
- Department store chain Debenhams fell into administration for the second time in April 2020
- P&O Ferries said in May 2020 that it was looking at making 1,100 workers redundant
- TUI warned in May 2020 that 8,000 jobs could be cut due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis
- British Airways said in May 2020 that it still plans on pressing ahead with 12,000 job cuts
- Oasis and Warehouse went into administration in May 2020, with 1,800 staff placed on furlough
- Shoe chain Aldo collapsed into administration in June 2020 with five stores permanently closed
- Victoria's Secrets plunged into administration in June 2020, putting 800 jobs at risk
- Fashion chain Quiz put its shop business into administration in June 2020, putting 82 stores at risk
JD Sports bought Go Outdoors in 2016 for £112 million.
At the time of writing, Go Outdoors has reopened 64 of its UK shops, with just three still listed as closed in Hathersage, Oxford and Southport.
In a statement on the website, JD Sports Fashion PLC said: "The Group can confirm that it has considered a number of strategic options for Go Outdoors and that Go Outdoors' directors have lodged the Notice in Court.
"Administrators have not yet been appointed."
The Sun has contacted JD Sports group for additional comment and we'll update this article when we hear back.
Shares in JD Sports dropped almost two per cent as trading started in London this morning, June 22.
Go Outdoors isn't the only retailer to confirm money struggles during the coronavirus crisis.
Retailers that have sadly fallen into administration this year include Victoria's Secrets, Oasis, Warehouse and Debenhams.
Shoe chain Aldo has also collapsed, while Quiz clothing has put its shop business into administration.
We've got a full round-up of all the shops and restaurants that have gone bust here.