Almost 450 jobs have been lost at music retailer Zavvi after its administrators were forced to close a further 18 stores and admit defeat in their bid to sell the ailing business.
The cuts bring the total number of Zavvi employees made redundant since Christmas to more than 1,500.
The latest set of stores to be closed include its flagship shop on London’s Oxford Street, which has 140 full-time employees.
However, 10 stores have been sold, and a further three are also expected to find a new owner – expected to secure the jobs of 629 employees.
The Zavvi group was formed after a management buy-out of Virgin Megastore in September 2007. It ran into trouble when its main supplier – the Woolworths’ distribution division Entertainment UK (EUK) – went into administration before Christmas.
Administrators Ernst & Young said: “While it has not been possible to secure a sale of the business as a going concern, we are delighted to have been able to secure continued employment for 629 Zavvi employees”.
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