La Senza’s future cast into doubt

THE fate of the 15 Irish branches of the lingerie chain La Senza was in doubt last night after it was announced that the parent company in Britain was going into administration.

Administrators could be appointed within the next 10 days, in accordance with Britain’s Insolvency Act, a spokeswoman for the company said.

The lingerie chain, which employs more than 2,500 people at its 158 stores across Britain, called in business restructuring experts from KPMG to advise on its future earlier in the month.

It has now announced difficult trading conditions and the “overall macro environment” had led it to the conclusion that administration was the best option.

The spokeswoman said: “Due to trading conditions in La Senza’s high street locations and the overall macro environment which are having an adverse effect on the company, the board of directors of La Senza has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.”

The business will continue to trade as normal in the meantime and there have been no unplanned redundancies or store closures.

La Senza has 15 stores in Ireland, North and South, including two in Cork, one in Mahon and the other in Debenhams in the city centre.