Handmade Burger Co. falls into administration with loss of 283 jobs

Insolvency practitioners at Leonard Curtis Recovery were appointed as administrators of Handmade’s owner The Burger Chain Limited yesterday (23 January).

All 18 restaurants operating under the brand have closed, with a loss of 283 jobs.

According to joint administrator David Griffiths, Handmade Burger Co.’s sales have almost halved in recent years, causing the business to become unsustainable.

“The casual dining market in the UK has experienced significant challenges over the last four years, largely as a result of overcapacity in the sector, which has resulted in a significant number of insolvencies,” he says.

“It is disappointing that circumstances have meant that a sale of [Handmade Burger Co.] has not been possible in this case, but our focus now should be on those employees affected by this difficult news.

“We will work hard to provide them with necessary assistance to claim for monies which remain due to them.”

The chain was founded in Birmingham’s Brindleyplace in 2006 by the Sargeant family, and at its peak grew to 29 sites.

It first fell into administration in 2017, with nine restaurants closing at the time as part of the insolvency process.

However, a buyer was found for the other 20 sites​​, allowing the business to continue trading.