UK arm of United States largest bridal retailer
On 17 April 2023, Andy Pear and Milan Vuceljic, Partners at Moorfields, were appointed Joint Administrators of David’s Bridal UK Limited, the UK arm of the leading United States bridal and special occasion retailer.
The U.S. parent company, David’s Bridal LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on the same date, after exploring strategic alternatives to maximise stakeholder value. In light of liquidity challenges, the UK subsidiary entered Administration to protect its operations and fulfil customer commitments.
The UK business operated four retail stores in London, Watford, Birmingham, and Glasgow, employing over 150 staff. Despite the administration, all stores remained open, and the company continued to honour all existing customer orders.
Objectives
- Maintain trading operations across all UK stores during the administration process.
- Ensure all existing bridal and occasion wear orders were fulfilled in full and on time.
- Protect customer confidence and reputation during a sensitive trading period.
- Maximise value recovery through an orderly stock realisation and sale process.
- Preserve as many jobs as possible while exploring strategic sale options.
Moorfields’ Actions
- Continued trading of all UK stores to ensure business continuity and customer satisfaction.
- Fulfilment of all customer orders without interruption, maintaining trust and brand integrity.
- Implemented stock liquidation strategies across all locations, including discounts and promotional sales to drive cash generation.
- Worked in coordination with U.S. counterparts to align communication and operational strategy across jurisdictions.
- Maintained close contact with staff, landlords, and suppliers to ensure ongoing operational stability.
Results
- All four UK stores remained open and trading, ensuring no immediate disruption to customers.
- Customer orders were fulfilled in full, preserving goodwill and reputation in the bridal market.
- A structured stock liquidation programme was successfully launched, maximising recoveries.
- Over 150 UK jobs were maintained during the administration period.
- The process demonstrated Moorfields’ ability to manage a high-profile, cross-border retail administration with sensitivity and operational control.
