Eighty jobs lost as furniture firm goes bust again

Kettle Home traded from the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, Northamptonshire

A furniture wholesaler has gone into liquidation for the second time in two years, with the loss of 80 jobs.

Liquidators have been appointed to manage Kettle Home Ltd, based at Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, Northamptonshire.

The impact of the Covid pandemic and the high costs of shipping are being blamed.

The liquidators said they were working to make sure workers received their entitlements as soon as possible.

A company called Kettle Interiors at the same address went into administration in March 2023, after importing and supplying furniture for over 30 years.

Kettle Home Ltd started trading in April 2023, but Kevin Mapstone and Yiannis Koumettou of Begbies Traynor have now been appointed as liquidators.

"The retail furniture sector has suffered in recent years after struggling to recover from the impact of the pandemic," they said.

"This, together with a sharp rise in the costs of shipping, has made Kettle Home unsustainable, with the business unable to afford to continue to trade.

"All staff, comprising 80 part-time and full-time employees, were made redundant for reasons of insolvency."

Kevin Mapstone from Begbies Traynor said he would be "supporting the former employees at this difficult time"

Mr Mapstone added: “Having only been appointed a couple of days ago, our team is now working hard to find out more about what has happened and seeking the best possible returns for creditors.

"We will be writing to all creditors in due course, as well as supporting the former employees at this difficult time to ensure they receive their entitlements as soon as possible.”

There is no information yet on the position of customers who have ordered furniture but have not yet received it.