Camera retailer Jessops has been hit with a winding up petition in the latest setback for the chain owned by Dragons Den star Peter Jones.
Jessops was issued with the winding up demand from HM Revenue & Customs this week, according to court filings, in a dispute said to be centred around unpaid taxes.
It follows years of turmoil at the camera company, which has struggled to make a profit and has called in administrators three times since late 2019. It has been through a series of restructurings, including closing the majority of its stores as more customers switch to buying electronics online.
Earlier this week, the Telegraph reports that the camera retailer failed to make a profit last year amid sliding sales. Losses remained static at around £1.2million last year after it “streamlined” its business.
However, sales were down at £19.9million for the year to October 1 compared to £21.6million a year earlier. Jessops said it was trying to make its business “more accessible” to younger customers and engage with “content creators at an early stage in their imaging journey”.
Jessops has been owned by Dragons Den star Peter Jones since 2013 through his PJ Investment Group business.
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