JJB and Stylo poised to shed 3,000 jobs

More than 3,000 retail jobs were put on the line yesterday, after administrators to the Barratts and Priceless shoe chains and the sportswear retailer JJB separately said that 300 stores could close.

KPMG was appointed administrator to JJB's shoe chains, Original Shoe Company and Qubefootwear, which together have 77 stores. The two loss-making chains employ 851 staff, 438 of whom were made redundant yesterday. Separately, the management of Stylo, which runs Barratts and Priceless, has bought 160 stores and 165 concessions from the administrator Deloitte. The deal saves 3,000 jobs, but 220 stores not acquired by Michael Ziff, Stylo's chairman, will close immediately with the loss of 2,500 jobs.