THE future of Andover’s largest footwear store could be under threat after the company was placed into administration.

Footwear retailer, Brantano UK, was officially handed over to administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers last Thursday, casting a doubt over the future of its 140 stores nationwide.

The company currently operates a store at the Enham Arch Retail Park, employing a total of nine people.

Brantano, which employs a total of 2,000 people across the country, was previously acquired by Alteri Investors’ in October 2015 but is said to have experienced ‘difficult trading conditions’.

Despite ‘sustained efforts’ to improve the company’s fortunes, the retailer, which has a head office in Leicestershire, will now be placed into administration.

Tony Barrell, Mike Jervis and Rob Hunt of PwC have been appointed as joint administrators.

Mr Barrell, who is a lead administrator at PwC, said: “The continuing challenging conditions for ‘bricks and mortar’ retail stores are well documented.

“Like many others, Brantano has been hit hard by the change in consumers’ shopping habits and the evolution of the UK retail environment.

“The administrators are continuing to trade the businesses as normal whilst we assess the trading strategy over the coming days and weeks.

“Staff will be paid their arrears of wages and salaries, and will continue to be paid for their work during the administration.”

Robert Moran, deals partner at PwC, added: “Brantano is an established value shoe retailer in the UK and Jones Bootmaker/Brantano businesses attracted considerable interest during the 2015 sales process.

“We are now assessing interest in the UK Brantano business as a whole or its parts and we welcome approaches from interested parties.”