In recent weeks, Sky News has revealed that: WH Smith was in talks to sell its entire high street chain, numbering 500 stores and about 5,000 employees; Poundland's parent has hired advisers to assess options for the leading discount chain; Lakeland, the family-owned kitchenware retailer, has been put up for sale; and that The Original Factory Shop was being sold to Modella Capital.
Quiz, which is chaired by the former JD Sports chief Peter Cowgill, has appointed the insolvency practitioner Teneo as administrator to Zandra Retail, which operates Quiz's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland, after weeks of talks about a rescue deal.
Sheraz Ramzan, CEO of Quiz, said in a statement issued to Sky News: "The board took the difficult decision to appoint administrators to Zandra Retail Limited in light of the continuing challenging trading conditions impacting the Group's performance.
Sky News reported last month that Quiz Clothing traded from roughly 60 standalone stores and dozens more concessions, employing about 1,500 people.
Sky News understands that the company, which was listed until recently on the London Stock Exchange, will see the closure of 23 of its shops, with about 200 employees expected to be made redundant.
