Acquisition of Ed’s Easy Diner results in 380 job cuts

Ed’s Easy Diner, the retro American diner chain which operates 59 restaurants across the UK, has been acquired by Giraffe Concepts Limited, part of Boparan Restaurant Holdings.

As part of the transaction, Rob Croxen and Blair Nimmo from KPMG were appointed joint administrators to Ed’s Easy Diner Group Limited (EEDGL), Ed’s Easy Diner Holdings Limited (EEDHL) and Ed’s Easy Diner Overseas Limited (EEDOL).

As well as purchasing the Ed’s Easy Diner brand, Giraffe Concepts acquired 33 restaurants and the company’s head office team, securing around 700 jobs.

A further 26 diners, however, will close with immediate effect, causing 379 redundancies.

Among the closing diners are two Yorkshire branches located in Monks Cross, York and Doncaster’s Frenchgate, which will result in 23 total job losses.

In addition, Two Ed’s Easy Diner branches based in York’s Designer Outlet and Meadowhall, as well as another in Newcastle’s Metrocentre will be transferring to Giraffe Concepts Limited.

Commenting on the sale, Rob Croxen, partner at KPMG, said: “While we are pleased the transaction preserves around 700 jobs, our immediate priority in the coming days will be to liaise with those employees who have been affected by redundancy and ensure that in addition to receiving all back pay owed, they are provided with any assistance they need.”