90 jobs lost as homewares company collapses

MORE than 90 jobs have been lost at a Birmingham homewares company after it fell into administration.

Staff at Betterware, based on Hurricane Park in Bromford since 2015, were sent home from work last week and the company has now ceased trading.

Betterware sold household products such as cooking utensils, cleaning products and gardening tools, via its website. It was founded in London in 1928 as ‘Better- wear’ and established headquarters in Birmingham in the 1980s.

A statement from the firm said it had suffered tough trading conditions over the past nine months, leading to cashflow problems which had resulted in the administration.

Ms Dowson said: “It is very sad to see the demise of such a longestablished business. Our aim was to find a purchaser for the business as a going concern in order to safeguard the jobs but unfortunately, despite our efforts, this did not prove possible. We are now in the process of realising what assets we can in order to achieve the best possible returns for creditors.”

A winding up petition for the company was due to be heard in the High Court in London yesterday. Administrators Gareth Rusling and Claire Dowson from Begbies Traynor were appointed last week.

The news follows an announcement that its sister company Kleeneze, which sells health and household products via selfemployed agents, had been placed into administration.

Both Betterware and Kleeneze were acquired by JRJR Networks, then known as CVSL, in separate deals in 2015.

The Dallas-based group trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

Both Betterware and JRJR Networks have been contacted for comment but have so far not responded.