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Troubled baby goods retailer Mothercare has called in administrators, putting 2,500 UK jobs at risk.
There will be a phased closure of all of its 79 UK stores, administrators from PwC said.
The UK firm “has been loss making for a number of years”, but international franchises are profitable, PwC said.
On Monday the baby goods firm said it was “not capable” of being sufficiently profitable and that it had failed to find a buyer.
Clive Whiley, chairman of Mothercare said there was “deep regret and sadness that we have been unable to avoid the administration of Mothercare” and that the board “fully understand the significant impact on those UK colleagues and business partners who are affected.”
“However, the board concluded that the administration processes serve the wider interests of ensuring a sustainable future for the company, including the wider group’s global colleagues, its pension fund, lenders and other stakeholders.”
Mothercare said it was in continuing talks over possible UK concession stores and about using the brand to sell goods online.
It said it would move its pensions scheme across to its international business.