EIGHTEEN burger restaurants including a number in Scotland have closed today.
David Griffiths, Conrad Beighton and Paul Masters of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue and Recovery were appointed joint administrators of The Burger Chain Limited this morning.
The administrators for Handmade Burger Co said that "unfortunately, despite considerable efforts to secure a sale of the company's business, this has not been possible, and all 18 restaurants have today closed with the loss of 283 jobs".
It includes outlets in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. In Glasgow, the firm has a restaurant on St Vincent Street.
Mr Griffiths said: "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.
"Sales at Handmade Burger Co restaurants have almost halved during this period, which has proved to be unsustainable.
"It is disappointing that circumstances have meant that a sale of the business 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 all necessary assistance to claim for monies which remain due to them."
The administration is being undertaken by the Birmingham office of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery.
