UK-based flooring specialist Carpetright has filed for bankruptcy in its Belgian branch, as confirmed by Antwerp’s Business Court on Monday.
The company operates 16 stores throughout Belgium, all of which are now closed, as is its online sales platform, according to the company’s website.
More information regarding ongoing orders is set to be released on the website in the coming days. The company is currently not responding to emails or phone calls.
Approximately 100 store employees were gathered at the head office on Monday morning and told the news, Christian labour union ACV Puls representative Kristel Van Damme confirmed to Belga.
She added that even though it did not come as a surprise, it was disappointing given that the Belgian stores were undergoing a modernisation process. The product range has also been expanded, particularly with interior decor items.
Formerly known as Carpetland, the Carpetright chain primarily sold flooring. "They were very well-known for that," Johan Van Loon, another ACV Puls representative told VRT. "But of course, nowadays, there are also stores that focus more on decoration and offer living concepts. And then the concept of Carpetright had become a bit too narrow."
The British parent company of the chain ran into trouble earlier this summer. The impending purchase of Carpetright by its rival Tapi Carpets was announced in July. However, Tapi Carpets only plans to take over 54 of the existing 272 stores, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. Carpetright’s headquarters in Essex is also set to close.
Carpetright, which expanded into Belgium in 2002, had previously pulled out of Wallonia. Its 16 remaining Flemish stores were being managed by the Dutch branch.
"At ACV Puls, we had been asking the management questions about continuity for quite some time. Most stores were losing money, and we knew the situation was precarious," said Van Loon.
"Despite repeated assurances from the management that the bankruptcy of Carpetright UK would not affect our company, it now appears that these claims were unfounded."
