Coronavirus: Carluccio’s collapses putting 2,000 jobs at risk

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has gone into administration, blaming “challenging trading conditions” exacerbated by the coronavirus.

Administrator FRP is “urgently looking at options” for the future of the firm.

These include mothballing the business using government support, as well as trying to sell all or parts of it.

Most of the company’s 2,000 employees will be paid through the government’s job retention scheme while these options are explored.

The chain had already warned it was facing permanent branch closures due to the coronavirus.

Before the outbreak it was hit by the crunch in the casual dining sector and recently urged the state to step in.