Major UK retailer closes all 137 stores after plunging into administration

Major UK retailer closes all 137 stores after plunging into administrationThe Original Factory Shop had 137 stores and employed 1,180 people when it collapsed into administrationCommentsNewsChristopher Mallett10:08, 16 Apr 2026Updated 10:13, 16 Apr 2026View ImageMajor high street brand The Original Factory Shop has closed all its stores(Image: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)A popular discount retailer has vanished from the UK high street following the closure of all its shops and head office, four months after entering administration.‌The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) operated 137 stores and had 1,180 staff when it went into administration in January.‌TOFS, which started trading in 1969, shut down its website straight away and its shops carried on operating as usual while administrators explored options. Management consulting firm Interpath, which was brought in during the administration process, then identified stores nationwide for closure and now the once cherished retailer has stopped trading entirely. "A phased closure of the store portfolio was implemented considering the financial position," a spokesperson said.‌"Without any viable offers to take the business forward, it was not possible for The Original Factory Shop to continue trading and all remaining stores were closed on 4 April 2026", a spokesperson added.Its demise has resulted in widespread redundancies, with "the majority of employees having been made redundant, while a small number of staff have been retained to assist the joint administrators" wind down the business.Article continues belowA specialist team has been established to support affected workers with submitting Redundancy Payments Service claims. Earlier this year, administrators blamed the demise of the 57 year old firm on "adverse government fiscal policies," which led to "significant increases" in staffing expenses, alongside challenging trading conditions caused by soaring costs...