Tesco buys Paperchase brand but 106 shops at risk with stores in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich

Paperchase’s 106 branches face potential closure after Tesco agreed to buy the high street stationery chain’s brand but not its shops or workforce, including two Suffolk stores.

Tesco has announced a deal to buy the brand and intellectual property from the insolvency specialists after the stationery retailer hired administrators on Tuesday morning as the struggling business was unable to secure a rescue sale.

The move means Paperchase’s stores are expected to shut, including in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich, with hundreds of shop workers likely to face redundancy.

Paperchase appointed administrators from Begbies Traynor to oversee the insolvency process after the ailing firm failed to secure a buyer after being placed on the market by retail veteran owner Steve Curtis.

The administrators said: “On January 31, Mark Fry, Kirstie Provan and Gary Shankland, of Begbies Traynor, were appointed as joint administrators of Aspen Phoenix Newco Limited, which trades as Paperchase.

“Unfortunately, despite a comprehensive sales process, no viable offers were received for the company, or its business and assets, on a going concern basis.

“However, there has been significant interest in the Paperchase brand and attendant intellectual property.

“The joint administrators will continue trading the company’s operations in the short term, with all stores remaining open and trading as normal.”

The company said it will continue to honour gift cards in the short-term but stressed it will “not be possible” to redeem these after two weeks.

Paperchase also fell into administration two years ago, with the closure of 37 stores.

Jan Marchant, managing director of home and clothing at Tesco, said: “Paperchase is a well-loved brand by so many and we’re proud to bring it to Tesco stores across the UK.

“We have been building our plans to bring more brands and inspiration to the ranges we currently offer and this will help us to take those plans further.

“We look forward to sharing more with our customers in due course.”