WORK has resumed at the Huddersfield headquarters of retailer Bon Marché – but most of its staff are still stuck at home.
All 200 employees had hoped to report back to work at the Grange Moor offices and distribution centre today following the completion of a takeover deal for the national women’s wear chain.
But so far only staff employed in the internet sales side of the business have been told to resume their duties – with the others still waiting to be told when they can go back.
It is understood that four or five of the workers in the internet sales department returned yesterday to process orders placed last week. The rest of the 16-strong department were back at work today.
Private equity firm Sun European Partners has bought Bon Marché, which was part of the collapsed Peacocks Group.
The new owners are set to axe 1,400 jobs with the closure of 160 stores, but have not named the outlets that face closure. Another 230 will continue to operate.
Bon Marché, founded in 1982, has a store at New Street in Huddersfield and others at Brighouse, Dewsbury, Halifax, Bradford, Wakefield and Barnsley.
Peacocks, which has a store at the Piazza Centre, was put into administration last week with debts of £750m – putting 9,600 jobs at risk.
Administrators from KPMG are continuing to trade the Peacocks stores as efforts continue to find a buyer for that business.
Meanwhile, the sale of Bon Marché has hit a Huddersfield businessman.
Richard Downey, who runs the Rock Cafe bar, hosted the firm’s Christmas party for 200 people on December 17 – but has now been told that his £3,500 bill is with the administrators.
“The bill was for food, a DJ, a bar tab and door staff but I have been told it will go in with other creditors, and the new owners will not be paying out. It is a real blow to me.”
