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Optiplan Kitchens goes into administration
OPTIPLAN KITCHENS has been placed in administration and its workforce made redundant. Administrators were appointed on
Wednesday, November 30 last year by the bespoke manufacturer, which had 13 showrooms in the South and was founded 32 years ago. Owner Home Decor GB Ltd blamed lockdowns, post-Covid supply chain issues and rising costs for the decision. Industry speculation has been swirling about the viability of the company for some time.
In a statement to staff, Jason Limbert, Home Decor GB CEO, said that he felt “great sadness” in the decision, but Optiplan had faced “numerous challenges” since the outbreak of Covid-19.
“[This started with] the complete cessation of its operations, followed by prolonged periods of showroom closures
due to changing Covid
restrictions,” he said. “Post-Covid challenges in the supply chain have resulted in severe business disruption alongside rapidly escalating costs that the business has struggled to pass on to its customers quickly enough.” Limbert said that the business was restructured in April last year to try to get the spiralling costs under control, however utility and material prices
January 2023 ·
continued to rise and quickly eroded any benefits.
“Given the ongoing economic challenges with seemingly no end in sight to the high levels of ongoing inflation, we have reached the conclusion that there is no viable alternative to this action,” he said. Limbert confirmed to kbbreview that the administration only affects Optiplan and that Home Decor Group GB continues to trade profitably. The sudden closure of Optiplan is a massive blow to employees of course, but it also means major concerns for those customers who have kitchens outstanding – many of which are halfway through an install as well as those who have paid a deposit. One former employee told the Swindon Advertiser: “It was common knowledge that the business was struggling, which was why I got a new job, but I don’t think any of us really knew how bad things really were until now. I think we all thought they would turn it around.”
Suppliers that are now creditors
have already received letters informing them of developments. The joint administrators are James Saunders and Michael Lennon at Kroll in Manchester. They can be contacted at
optiplankitchens@kroll.com.
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