The head office and website of O’Briens Sandwich Bars in the UK have closed down.
It comes two years after the UK chain was bought out following the collapse of O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bars (UK) Ltd and O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bars (Property UK) Ltd in 2009 into administration. Both companies were subsequently dissolved.
It is not known how many shops are still trading as O’Briens Sandwich Bars, but it is understood the majority of the shops have rebranded and are trading as independents.
The Glasgow branch of O’Briens is still using the original name, but the owner said he now had no connection with his former franchisor and the head office for O’Briens Sandwich Bars UK, in Glasgow, had closed. Four former O’Briens franchisees who spoke to British Baker said they have had no contact with the directors since last year.
Following the collapse in 2009 of the UK business, a new company, O’Briens Franchising (UK) Ltd, bought the assets and set about working with some of the remaining franchisees. According to Companies House documents, the company is still trading, although it has never filed accounts the first set of which were required to be filed by 20 January 2011.
A separate company formed in 2009, O’Briens Franchising (GB) Ltd, which had directors in common with O’Briens Franchising (UK) Ltd, was struck off in November 2011.
O’Briens in Ireland is a separate company from the UK business and is not linked to the UK stores. Its website says it operates over 100 stores across the Irish Republic.
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