Essex Bonmarche staff told: Your jobs are safe (From Gazette)

Essex Bonmarche staff told: Your jobs are safe

4:40pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Local News By Andrea Collitt

STAFF at Colchester and Clacton’s Bonmarche stores are breathing a sigh of relief after learning their jobs are safe.

Doubt was cast over the future of the women’swear stores last month after the chain announced it was going into administration.

The fashion firm’s north Essex branches are two of around 230 stores which will remain open after the company was taken over by Sun European Partners.

Another 160 will close with the loss of around 1,400 jobs.

The Clacton shop, in Pier Avenue, has 13 members of staff, while there are seven at its Long Wyre Street store in Colchester.

Colchester store manager Trish Whiffin said: “Staff are thrilled with the news we are remaining open.

“We would like to extend a special thanks to all of our customers for their support and messages of encouragement over the past few weeks.”

Staff said they had been kept up to date with what was going on since Bonmarche announced it was going into administration.

Sun European Partners’ portfolio includes Jacques Vert, American Golf, SCS Sofas, Lee Cooper and Scotch and Soda.

However, the future for staff of Peacocks stores remains uncertain.

It has stores in Colchester, Clacton and Frinton.

Both Peacocks and Bonmarche were run by the Peacocks Group.

Peacocks has announced administrators have been appointed and are in the process of stabilising the business.

It said efforts were being made to sell the company within a short period of time.

There are 550 Peacocks stores in the UK.

The group’s financial performance has been weighed down by the level of its debts, which stem from a management buyout in 2006.