EMPLOYEES at a shoe group with 14 stores in the North-East and North Yorkshire faced an uncertain future tonight after it went into administration.
Business advisory group Deloitte was yesterday appointed as administrator of the Barratts Priceless Group, which employs 3,840 staff.
The group headquartered in Bradford, has 191 stores across the UK trading as Barratts and Priceless Shoes, as well as operating 371 concessions.
There are six Barratts stores in the region at Darlington, Middlesbrough, Harrogate, York, Washington and the MetroCentre.
Priceless shoes trades from Middlesbrough, Coulby Newham, Redcar, the MetroCentre, Sunderland, Newcastle, Blyth and Ashington.
Daniel Butters, joint administrator and partner in Deloitte's restructuring services practice, said: "Barratts and Priceless Shoes have faced a downturn in trading as a result of the difficult economic conditions.
"This has been exacerbated by the unseasonably mild weather in recent weeks which resulted in fewer sales across new winter lines.
"We will continue to trade the stores whilst we seek a buyer for all or parts of the business as a going concern.
"We are working closely with suppliers to ensure the business has the best possible platform to secure a sale, preserve jobs and generate as much value as possible for all creditors."
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