Jamie Oliver's restaurant chain on brink of collapse, putting 1,300 jobs at risk

Jamie Oliver's restaurant chain is reportedly poised to go into administration, putting 1,300 jobs at risk.

KPMG will handle the administration with an official announcement expected later on Tuesday once staff have been fully informed of the plans.

The company's 23 branches of Jamie's Italian, along with the Barbecoa and Fifteen restaurants will be sold.

The celebrity chef said he was "deeply saddened" by the outcome and thanked all of his company's staff and suppliers for putting "their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade".

Buyers had been sought for the company after Mr Oliver bdecided to sell up amid increasingly bleak prospects looked for the casual dining sector.

Byron Burger, Carluccio's, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Prezzo are among a host of chains forced to close outlets.

Mr Oliver added: "I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.

“I would also like to thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us over the last decade, it's been a real pleasure serving you.

“We launched Jamie's Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK high street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best in class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that.”

A spokesperson for the Jamie Oliver Group said: "The board of Jamie's Italian Limited has appointed Will Wright and Mark Orton of KPMG to put its UK-based restaurant business into administration."

Mr Oliver revealed last year that he had pumped £13m into the business two years ago when it had been close to bankruptcy.

He later shut 12 restaurants and let 600 staff go but has not been able to turn the company around.

More follows…