Ethel Austin enters into administration

Value retailer Ashloch Limited, trading as Ethel Austin

and Life and Style, has plunged into administration for the fourth time since 2008.

The retailer, which was last saved from administration by Sue Townsend, former director of bookseller Blackwell, last August, operates 48 stores mostly in the North and North West of England, the West Midlands and Scotland.

Duff & Phelps has been appointed as administrator to the business and they will be assisted by restricting specialist GA Europe, who will help to evaluate Ashloch’s trading and retail operations and to operate the stores. The administrators are considering the options available to Ashloch and it may be that a number of the stores will have to close.