Restaurant brands undergoing CVAs up 143%

The number of restaurant groups undergoing CVAs has rocketed 143%, with 12 CVAs entered into over the last six months compared to 17 over the whole of 2017.

Data from law firm Linklaters analysed the number of CVAs in the first quarter of this year. A company voluntary agreement (CVA) is a process which a struggling business can enter into allowing it to restructure its estate.

A string of restaurant groups have resorted to the measure to close outlets this year, including Byron, Carluccio's and Prezzo.

Richard Hodgson, restructuring and insolvency partner at Linklaters, said: "The sector has been faced with a number of issues that have caused a stranglehold. First, there's oversaturation in the market. A number of chains expanded rapidly to the point that supply has raced ahead of demand. Couple that with increased food prices, staff costs and business rates, owners are looking at where they can reduce costs to put the business on a more sustainable footing."

"The idea is that by launching a CVA, as an emergency option, the company has an opportunity to tackle underlying problems, such as an overrented and inflexible store portfolio and ensure that a sustainable business survives. But if some of the root causes aren't dealt with, it could be a case of delaying the inevitable."

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