Ted Baker's European Arm Faces Collapse, 1,000 Jobs at Risk

British fashion brand Ted Baker is on the brink of appointing administrators for its European retail and online operations, jeopardizing nearly 1,000 jobs. The retailer, with 46 stores across the UK and Europe, has struggled in recent years with increased competition and the negative impact of founder Ray Kelvin's departure amid misconduct allegations.

In 2022, US conglomerate Authentic Brands Group (ABG) acquired Ted Baker in a £211 million deal.  However, NODL, the holding company for the European arm, remains financially troubled. It reported a £43 million pre-tax loss in the year to January 2022, and now employs around 975 people in the region.

ABG recently terminated a partnership with AARC, the company operating Ted Baker's Europe-based stores and website, further destabilizing the brand's European presence.  Ted Baker's global operations, including stores in the US, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as its licensing agreements, are believed to be unaffected.