Byron's establishments dwindle to single digits after more shutdowns
Posted by Emily on 31st Oct 2023
The embattled burger brand Byron has witnessed its number of branches diminish to a mere few after a series of recent closures.
Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The company was procured in a pre-pack arrangement by Tristar Foods Limited earlier this year. After this, it shut down its dining locations in Ipswich, Oxford, and Norwich. These closures were in addition to the nine outlets that had already been permanently sealed during the administration transition.
Following these shutdowns, Byron now operates a total of nine outlets. These comprise four in London and individual locations in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and York.
Previously hailed as a gem in the 'premium burger market', Byron was initiated by Tom Byng in 2007. At its zenith, the chain boasted nearly 70 establishments and raked in annual turnovers of £90m.
Regrettably, over the past ten years, the company has been bogged down with a series of challenges. These include three separate insolvency proceedings, which gradually trimmed down the number of its outlets.
In the early months of 2018, the enterprise permanently shut almost one-third of its locations as part of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). This move witnessed Three Hills Capital Partners taking over from Hutton Collins as the principal shareholder.
Fast forward to summer 2020, the brand was taken over by Famously Proper, a subsidiary of the investment firm Calveton UK Limited. This pre-pack administration acquisition resulted in a further reduction of 30 locations, leaving 21 in operation.
Post-acquisition, Famously Proper inaugurated a fresh Byron outlet in Wembley – marking the brand's inaugural launch in half a decade. The company also took over the fried chicken label Mother Clucker, aiming for a nationwide spread of the brand while also reviving Byron's presence.
However, this revival was short-lived. Last November saw the firm appointing Interpath Advisory to re-evaluate its strategic direction. This eventually led to Tristar's acquisition of Famously Proper and the closure of nine more Byron outlets, including the recently opened Wembley branch.