French clothing chain Burton of London closes a quarter of its stores in France, with up to 221 jobs at risk

The clothing crisis is claiming another victim. The French chain of stores Burton of London will close, on Saturday February 25, 26 of its 109 points of sale, assured AFP on Friday Anne-Marie Da Costa, union representative of the CFTC. “A maximum” of 221 jobs out of 441 is threatened, specifies Thierry Le Guenic, majority shareholder.

According to the CFTC, the stores in Aix-en-Provence, Clermont-Ferrand, La Roche-sur-Yon, Créteil, Montauban and even Paris-Montparnasse are particularly affected by the closure. The union adds that “62 stores will be closed or sold, and only 47 will remain open”.

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The group, initially the French subsidiary of an English brand founded in 1904, was bought for a symbolic euro at the end of 2020 by the entrepreneur Thierry Le Guénic. Burton of London, which defines itself as “the most English of French brands”had been placed in the safeguard procedure last October.

Between the André, Camaïeu, San Marina, Kookaï and even Gap France brands, French ready-to-wear is currently experiencing a succession of liquidations and receiverships, due to the health crisis but also competition from online sales and of the second-hand market.