The shoe and fashion chain, Bristol, has filed for bankruptcy, leading to the closure of all its remaining stores in the Netherlands, including four locations in the province of Groningen.
With no potential buyers coming forward, the approximately 80 Dutch Bristol stores are set to close their doors. The company had previously operated branches in Groningen, Hoogezand, Stadskanaal, and Leek. The Veendam location had already shut down two weeks prior due to declining sales.
The bankruptcy leaves approximately 400 employees in the Netherlands without jobs. Euro Shoe Group, the Belgian parent company of Bristol, has decided to retain the roughly 70 Belgian stores.
Euro Shoe Group had requested a form of bankruptcy protection in Belgium in late May, granting the company until September 7th to find a new owner. The company has been grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in consumer spending. The second half of last year saw a significant drop in sales.
As part of the liquidation process, Bristol is conducting a massive clearance sale across both Belgium and the Netherlands. However, the generated revenue will fall short of settling all liabilities, the company says.
Bristol joins a growing list of retail chains that have disappeared from the Dutch high street in recent years. Notable closures include Big Bazar, electronics retailers BCC and Handyman, and fashion chains Perry Sport/Aktie Sport, Esprit, Sacha, and Scotch & Soda.
