340 jobs lost as Sheffield-based cafe chain goes into administration

Three hundred and forty staff at a Sheffield-based cafe chain have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis.
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Massarella Gelaterie Ltd has gone into administration and closed all 32 of its outlets, all of which were in House of Fraser stores, including the one in Meadowhall which employed 15.

Director Daniella Massarella said the administration came after the cafes closed on Friday March 20 under government guidelines. Staff wages, holiday pay and redundancy payments would be covered by the government.

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Massarella Catering Group also runs several other cafes and restaurants in South Yorkshire which are unaffected - including three in Atkinsons department store on The Moor, a Massarella restaurant in Meadowhall, two outlets in Barnsley and a Massarella coffee shop in Chesterfield.

Massarella Coffee Shop, Sheffield, Meadowhall (House of Fraser).Massarella Coffee Shop, Sheffield, Meadowhall (House of Fraser).
Massarella Coffee Shop, Sheffield, Meadowhall (House of Fraser).

Before the coronavirus crisis erupted the company operated more than 120 cafés and restaurants throughout the UK and employed more than 1,000. Other brands included Cafe Zest, Angelica’s Tea and Cake and Caffe Botanico.

The business was founded in 1864 when the family emigrated from Italy to Sheffield.

A spokesman for administrators Redman Nichols Butler said: “On 24 March 2020, Massarella Catering Group Ltd placed its subsidiary company Massarella Gelaterie Ltd into administration.

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"Massarella Gelaterie Ltd ran coffee shops in various House of Fraser stores. All locations ceased trading on Friday, 20 March, in line with government guidelines.

"Regrettably due to the current health and economic crisis, Massarella Catering Group Ltd was left with no other option other than to appoint administrators over Massarella Gelaterie Ltd.

"Massarella Catering Group Ltd can confirm that it and its remaining subsidiary companies (‘the group’) are unaffected by this administration.”