Peter Maturi enters administration
Kitchenware retailer Peter Maturi has gone into administration after struggling against online competition and rising business rates and rents.
The 115 year-old family owned business, which had an online retail presence and stores in Leeds, Harrogate and Manchester, said the business had become unsustainable because of changing customer habits and the increasing costs of leases and rates.
Andy Wood and Chris White of The P&A Partnership have been appointed as joint administrators and all 22 employees have been made redundant.
Wood said: “This is a long-established family business and is well-known and respected kitchenware retailer. Sadly this is another High Street victim of internet shopping and increasingly onerous rent and rate rises.
“We are considering all options, but we do not think it will be sold as a going concern. We have not yet had any interest from buyers and, in all likelihood, will simply look to sell the remaining stock.”
The business was founded by 19 year-old Italian immigrant Peter Maturi in 1899 in George Street, Leeds, and began by sharpening knives and scissors for hotels, restaurants and tailors before moving into retail. Maturi passed away in 1956 but his family continued to build the business with stores on Vicar Lane in Leeds, King Street in Manchester and in the Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate.
