Allied Carpets bought in pre-pack administration deal

Allied Carpets has been bought in a pre-pack administration deal by a company associated with Floors-2-Go.

It is the third time in as many years that Allied Carpets has called in the administrators.

Duff and Phelps were appointed on April 20. The firm said that “immediately following” its appointment a sale of Allied Floors and certain assets of the company was completed to General George, part of the Floors-2-Go Group.

Nine stores were acquired as part of the deal.

Duff & Phelps joint administrator Geoff Bouchier said: “We are pleased to have completed a going concern sale of the business which has resulted in the continued of operation of all 9 stores and saved 41 jobs.”

In the weeks leading up to the administration Allied Carpets had closed “about five stores”, sources told Retail Week, including its shop in Ipswich.

The Sun reported that other closures include Bedford, Colchester, Stockton-on-Tees, Cannock and Elgin.

A separate company, Home Flooring Solutions - an insurance business run by former Allied boss Clive Hutchings – was last week dealing with customer queries at the closed stores.

Allied Carpets director Dean Weston led a rescue of the business last year, buying only 20 shops. It had 140 trading in 2009.

Weston did not return calls.

General George has agreed to honour all current outstanding customer orders as part of the sale.

Customer queries should be directed to alliedenquiries@floors2go.co.uk or 0121 359 0234.

Source : Nicola Harrison - Retail Week
www.retail-week.com