London - The Jamie's Italian restaurant chain founded by
celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has collapsed and appointed insolvency
administrators.
"I'm devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into
administration," Oliver tweeted.
"I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of
the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business
over the years," he said.
I’m devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration. I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years. Jamie Oliver
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) May 21, 2019
A statement by the Jamie Oliver Group said the board of Jamie's
Italian Limited appointed business consultants KPMG as administrators
of the brand's 23 outlets in Britain.
"Jamie Oliver Holdings, which operates Jamie Oliver Limited and Jamie
Oliver Licensing Limited, as well as the international restaurant
franchise business - Jamie's Italian International Limited - will
continue to trade as normal," the statement said.
Oliver said he wanted to "thank all the customers who have enjoyed
and supported us" since Jamie's Italian launched in 2008.
"It's been a real pleasure serving you," he added.
There has been mixed reactions from social media:
Jamie Oliver forgetting that the generation he stole school dinners from would eventually become his client base. #JamieOliver pic.twitter.com/Kt33R9r4g2
— Matthew Heaselden (@Hoozlee) May 21, 2019
I told you years ago Jamie; no garlic bread in an Italian restaurant, you pretentious cock? Did you listen? And £14 cocktails served by stuck up tossers? Everyone saw this coming.
Jamie Oliver’s restaurants crash leaving 1,300 jobs at risk https://t.co/jItyvRTGZh pic.twitter.com/ik0w2WxCnE
— Enzers™ (@Paul_Ensell) May 21, 2019