Butchers chain in Kent made dozens redundant

Family-owned butcher’s chain J C Rook & Sons closed down their stores in Kent, leaving dozens of employees redundant. 

On Monday 14 March the butcher’s chain stated on their website: “J C Rook & Sons Limited (the ‘Company’) was placed into administration with Neil Gostelow and William Wright subsequently being appointed Joint Administrators”.

Established by the Rook family 55 years ago, J C Rook & Sons is described as a well-established and respected family business with 11 shops operating throughout East and Mid Kent. 

In recent years, their branches in Broadstairs, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Hythe, Maidstone, Southfleet, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne were being run by a third generation of Rooks.

The administrators, Neil Gostelow and William Wright, revealed that the sudden closure of the butcher’s chain has been blamed on a fall in trade due to the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, the administrators released a statement highlighting the main reasons for the business’ decision to pursue an insolvency process.

They commented: “The company suffered trading losses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily due to constraints from lockdown closures which were then exacerbated further through the Omicron variant in late 2021, during what would be their peak season in the run up to Christmas.

“The directors concluded that with the deteriorating trading position, the company would need to go through an insolvency process.”

Business management consultant and administrators Interpath Advisory stated: “The majority of the company's 155 employees have been made redundant,” with only a few people left to help with the administration process.