Darrell Lea closes almost half its stores and axes 200 staff

Almost 200 Darrell Lea staff will lose their jobs today with the closure of 32 Darrell Lea’s stores following the confectionery company’s administration last month.

Administrator Mark Robinson from PPB Advisory said the company-owned Darrell Lea stores will cease trading from today, leaving 34 stores open.

“Given these developments, the positions of 167 casual employees, 16 part-time employees, and 15 full-time employees will regrettably be made redundant,” Robinson said.

“There will be no changes to manufacturing, warehousing and head office operations which will continue to operate on a business as usual basis.”

Robinson said since PPB was appointed it had undertaken an “urgent review” of the business and closing underperforming stores would make it easier to find a buyer for the remainder of the business.

“While this is a very unfortunate development, our objective at this time is to make Darrell Lea more attractive to potential purchasers, and help protect the interests of the remaining 480 employees,” he said.

The employees to be made redundant are 167 casual employees, 16 part-time employees, and 15 full-time employees.

The administrators said there will be no changes to manufacturing, warehousing and head office operations which will continue to operate on a business as usual basis.

“These developments are in line with restructuring initiatives that Darrell Lea was considering prior to PPB Advisory’s appointment,” Robinson said.

“We are grateful for the support from the general public who remain very supportive of Darrell Lea.”

Stores to be closed

ACT: Belconnen Mall, Tuggeranong Hyperdome and Woden Plaza

NSW: Blacktown Westpoint, Bondi Westfield, Broadway, Burwood Westfield, Carlingford, Gorokan Lake Haven, Liverpool Westfield, Merrylands, Miranada Fair, Parammatta Westfield, QVB Sydney, Roselands Centro, Rouse Hill and St Ives Shopping Town.

VIC: Doncaster Shopping Town, Highpoint West Shopping Centre, Swanston Street, Northland Shopping Centre and Southland Shopping Centre.

QLD: Broadbeach Pacific Fair, Southport Australia Fair, Upper Mt Gravitt, Robina Town Centre and Toombul Westfield.

SA: Westfield Tea Tree Plaza.

WA: Hilarys Whitford City, Morley Galleria, Cannington Westfield, Joondalup