Trends & Features

Canterbury Europe goes into administration

Canterbury Europe Limited, the European trading arm of the Canterbury Group, has gone into administration with the loss of 72 jobs in the UK.

All sponsorship contracts have been terminated as a result of the administration, including deals with Portsmouth FC, rugby clubs Leinster, London Wasps and Cardiff, and Yorkshire and Hampshire cricket clubs.

Says David Costley-Wood, partner at administrator KPMG Restructuring: “This administration has been the culmination of difficult trading, following a period in which Canterbury Europe Limited had unsuccessfully tried to expand into new areas. The company has also been hit by the weakening of the pound, as it imports its goods from the Far East.

“The European business will continue to trade under the administration while we try to find a buyer for the business and assets. The global brand and trade marks are not affected by the administration of the European business and we understand that the owners of the Canterbury Group are looking for a potential acquirer or new investor to lead the next stage of Canterbury’s development.”

Canterbury opened its first European retail store in London at the beginning of 2009 and was planning to open additional stores across the UK and Europe over the next three years.

In the March issue of ‘Sports Insight’ we reported that Canterbury’s business was disrupted for parts of 2008 after its move to new central European facilities in May didn’t go to plan.

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