The sudden collapse of a 79-year-old kitchen manufacturer is a jolt for employees, homebuilders, and anyone waiting on a half-finished kitchen project. On 19 January 2026, Moores Furniture Group entered administration, triggering 124 immediate redundancies and a pre-pack sale that handed its customer list and brand to rival Wren Kitchens.
Date of administration: 19 January 2026 ·
Jobs lost: 124 ·
Company founded: 1947 ·
Administrators appointed: James Clark and Will Wright (Interpath) ·
Customer list buyer: Wren Kitchens contract division
Quick snapshot
- Moores Furniture Group entered administration on 19 January 2026 (IndexBox (industry data provider))
- 124 employees made redundant immediately (IndexBox)
- Pre-pack sale to Wren Trade Kitchens Ltd (Harrogate News (local press))
- Joint administrators: James Clark and Will Wright of Interpath (TheBusinessDesk (Yorkshire business news))
- Exact reasons beyond “challenging trading conditions”
- Status of the pension scheme
- Total debt and asset values at administration
- How many workers were retained in the pre-pack transfer
- Whether the Moores brand will continue as a trade brand under Wren
- Total consideration paid by Wren for the customer list and intellectual property
- Whether any employees were retained permanently by Wren
- Founded 1947; survived seven decades before collapse (Consultancy.uk (management consulting news))
- Operating losses doubled to £5.8M in year ending Dec 2024 (Business Sale (M&A news))
- Administration and pre-pack occurred same day – 19 Jan 2026 (Harrogate News)
- Wren Kitchens to deliver outstanding customer contracts (Specification Online (construction trade media))
- Housebuilders like Barratt Homes must find new kitchen suppliers (Specification Online (construction trade media))
- Pension Protection Fund may step in for the pension scheme (Specification Online (construction trade media))
Eight key facts at a glance, one pattern: a 79-year-old manufacturer undone by rising costs and a housing slowdown, with a same-day rescue deal that saved the brand but not the jobs.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Moores Furniture Group Limited |
| Headquarters | Wetherby, West Yorkshire |
| Industry | Kitchen manufacturing and contract supply |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Administration date | 19 January 2026 |
| Administrators | James Clark and Will Wright (Interpath) |
| Jobs lost | 124 |
| Customer list buyer | Wren Kitchens contract division |
Has Moore’s Furniture Group gone bust?
Strictly speaking, Moores Furniture Group Limited has not been dissolved — it entered administration, a form of insolvency protection. Joint administrators James Clark and Will Wright of Interpath were appointed on 19 January 2026 (TheBusinessDesk (regional business news)). The company’s assets, including the brand and customer list, were sold the same day in a pre-pack deal to Wren Trade Kitchens Ltd, a subsidiary of Wren Kitchens (Harrogate News).
What does “gone bust” mean in this context?
Administration is a legal process that gives a company breathing space from creditors while administrators try to rescue the business or sell viable parts. In Moores’ case, the pre-pack sale meant the brand and ongoing customer contracts transferred immediately to Wren Kitchens. The old company entity remains in administration and will eventually be liquidated or dissolved.
Did Moores Furniture Group completely cease operations?
Manufacturing at the Wetherby site stopped, and 124 workers were let go (IndexBox). However, about 336 employees were retained temporarily to finish work-in-progress orders and support the handover to Wren (IndexBox). The brand itself continues under new ownership.
For customers with open orders, the impact is minimal — Wren committed to delivering on the same terms. But the collapse shows how vulnerable even long-established manufacturers are when housebuilding stalls and input costs climb.
Who is the CEO of Moores Furniture Group?
Michael Barrett was the CEO of Moores Furniture Group at the time of the administration. Previously, he had led the company through a management buyout period and was the public face of the business on its leadership page (Moores Furniture Group (company website, now listing administration notice)).
Who was the CEO at the time of administration?
Michael Barrett held the CEO role. According to the company’s website, the leadership team page was updated to announce the administration and direct customers to Wren Kitchens for ongoing orders.
What is Michael Barrett’s background?
Barrett had been with Moores for several years, overseeing the company’s contract division that supplied major housebuilders. His background includes senior roles at kitchen and joinery manufacturers. No public statement from Barrett has been issued since the administration. The lack of public comment leaves uncertainties for those affected.
Who owns Moores Furniture Group?
Before administration, Moores Furniture Group was privately owned. The company had undergone a management buyout in 2024, with Cole Associates advising on the acquisition (Consultancy.uk (management consulting news)). Full ownership details are filed at Companies House.
Who owned Moores Furniture Group before administration?
The pre-administration ownership structure was not publicly detailed in press releases. The Interpath announcement simply referred to “the directors” being unable to continue trading. The management buyout in mid-2024 suggests recent private equity or management ownership.
Did a private equity firm own it?
No named private equity firm has been publicly linked to Moores in media coverage. The business appears to have been owner-managed after its buyout.
Who supplies Barratt Homes kitchens?
Moores Furniture Group was a long-standing supplier through its contract division, which provided kitchens to major UK housebuilders including Barratt Homes, the public sector, and affordable housing developers (Consultancy.uk).
Was Moores Furniture Group a supplier to Barratt Homes?
Yes, Moores’ contract division was a key partner for Barratt and other national builders. The administration notice from Interpath confirmed that Wren Kitchens’ trade division will now be positioned to support those relationships (Specification Online).
Who now supplies Barratt Homes kitchens?
Wren Kitchens’ contract division has stepped in, having acquired the customer list and IP through the pre-pack deal. Barratt and other housebuilders now need to negotiate new supply agreements with Wren — or seek alternatives in a market already squeezed by rising material costs.
What happened to jobs at Moores Furniture Group?
Immediate redundancies claimed 124 positions when administration began (IndexBox). Around 336 employees were kept on temporarily to manage outstanding orders and assist with the handover (IndexBox). Whether these temporary roles became permanent under Wren ownership remains unconfirmed.
How many jobs were lost?
124 employees were made redundant on the day of administration. The total workforce prior to the collapse was about 500 (Business Sale).
Were any employees retained?
Yes, roughly 336 staff remained for a short period to complete existing orders and support the transition to Wren Kitchens (IndexBox). Their long-term status has not been disclosed.
What support is available for ex-employees?
Joint administrators will handle redundancy claims through the government’s Insolvency Service. The Pension Protection Fund may also be contacted regarding the Moores pension scheme, though no official statement has been made.
Former employees should monitor communications from Interpath. Claims for unpaid wages, holiday pay, and notice pay must be submitted through official channels. The pension scheme’s fate is a key unknown — watch for a PPF assessment.
Timeline
- – Moores Furniture Group founded (Consultancy.uk)
- – Company faced challenging trading conditions as housing market slowed and input costs rose (Consultancy.uk)
- – Moores Furniture Group enters administration; James Clark and Will Wright appointed joint administrators (TheBusinessDesk)
- – Pre-pack sale of assets and customer list to Wren Trade Kitchens Ltd (Harrogate News)
- – 124 employees made redundant (IndexBox)
What we know — and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Administration filed on 19 January 2026 (IndexBox)
- Interpath appointed joint administrators (TheBusinessDesk)
- 124 immediate job losses (IndexBox)
- Customer list and brand sold to Wren Kitchens via pre-pack (Harrogate News)
- Company founded in 1947 (Consultancy.uk)
- Michael Barrett was CEO (Moores Furniture Group (company website))
- Turnover £58.1 million for year ended Dec 2024 (Business Sale)
- Operating losses doubled to £5.8 million in that period (Business Sale)
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons beyond general “challenging conditions”
- Pension scheme status
- Total debt and asset values
- Number of employees retained in the pre-pack transition
- Warranty handling for existing Moores kitchen customers
Views from inside and outside
It is with regret that we confirm the appointment of joint administrators. The company was impacted by rising input costs and low levels of housebuilding activity, which ultimately made the business unsustainable.
— James Clark, Joint Administrator, Interpath (as reported by Consultancy.uk)
We have been in talks to save Moores Furniture Group but could not reach an agreement. We are pleased to confirm that we will deliver outstanding customer contracts with no impact on price or delivery schedule.
— Wren Kitchens statement, via Specification Online
This is a significant loss for the local area and the wider industry. A manufacturer that had been a fixture in Wetherby for decades is now gone, with 124 families directly affected.
— Harrogate News
Summary
The administration of Moores Furniture Group is a stark reminder that even a 79-year-old business can crumble when rising costs and a housing slowdown squeeze margins simultaneously. The pre-pack sale to Wren Kitchens preserved the brand and protected customer contracts — but 124 job losses and an uncertain pension scheme leave a bitter aftermath. For UK housebuilders reliant on Moores, the immediate task is to secure new supply agreements — or face further delays in already-slow housing completions.
The Moores Furniture Group administration, which resulted in 124 job losses, is explored in depth in Moores Furniture Group administration.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean when a company goes into administration?
Administration is a legal process that protects a company from creditors while administrators try to rescue the business or sell viable parts. If no rescue is possible, the company is liquidated.
Will I get my deposit back for an unfinished Moores kitchen?
Wren Kitchens has committed to fulfilling outstanding orders at the original price and delivery schedule. Customers should contact Wren’s contract division directly for details.
How does a pre-pack administration work?
A pre-pack administration sells the company’s assets to a buyer before administrators are formally appointed. This allows the business to continue trading without disruption, but often means unsecured creditors receive little or nothing.
Are there other kitchen manufacturers affected by the housing slowdown?
The UK housing market has seen reduced activity due to higher interest rates and input costs. Several kitchen and joinery manufacturers have reported financial difficulties, but Moores is the most high-profile collapse so far.
What happens to the Moores Furniture Group brand now?
The brand was acquired by Wren Kitchens and may be retained as a trade brand or phased out. Customers should check the Wren Kitchens contract division for updates.
Can I still order Moores kitchen units from Wren Kitchens?
Wren Kitchens has said it will deliver existing Moores orders. New orders under the Moores brand are not currently available pending further announcements.
How do I contact the administrators about a claim?
Claims should be directed to Interpath’s appointed team. Public contact details are expected to be issued via the company’s website or the Insolvency Service.
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Oscar Friel covers culture, lifestyle, society and long-form features across the UK.