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Burger King: Future of three Black Country restaurants 'in doubt'

The future of three Black Country Burger King restaurants is in doubt after the companies running them went into administration.

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Millcliffe Ltd and CPL Foods run 36 franchised Burger King stores across the country, including the outlets at the Wulfrun Centre, Wolverhampton; Queens Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich and a 'drive thru' at Port West Retail Park, Waterfront West, Brierley Hill.

The two companies restaurants employ 1,000 people in total at 58 sites and also include an El Taco Loco, Roosters Chicken and Real Cafe at Queens Square and Roosters and El Taco at the Wulfrun Centre.

The companies called in administrators from AlixPartners who said they had experienced 'cash flow pressure, primarily due to delays in developing and opening new stores linked to their growth strategy'.

Nick Cropper, Ryan Grant and Catherine Williamson from the business advisory firm were appointed joint administrators over Millcliffe and CPL Foods on April 7.

The companies are both registered to addresses in Ipswich.

The administrators said that all of the restaurants will continue to trade while they explore all possible options for a sale of all or parts of the business.

They will also work closely with the franchisor, Burger King Europe, in the hope of finding suitable interested parties to take on the sites. Mr Cropper said; "Our priority now is to work closely with the business and determine the optimum route forward for the companies as we continue to serve our valued guests throughout the UK.

"We are confident that the companies are an attractive proposition for a range of potential buyers and, as such, we expect and welcome some contact from interested third parties."

The Burger King in West Bromwich, which was opened by CPL Foods, is in the 150-seat food court that only opened up for business in the shopping centre last October. The court created 35 new jobs.

The Wulfrun food court was opened by CPL in April last year on a 15-year lease from London and Cambridge Properties.

The 36 Burger King restaurants also include ones in Castle Street, Shrewsbury; Kingfisher Shopping Centre, Redditch and The Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Coldfield.

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