Several UK companies have entered administration in recent days, including a beauty and cosmetics firm that ceased operations after nearly three decades, a video game developer that made redundancies, and a footwear brand that provided an update after calling in administrators.
Beauty Company Aromantic Ceases Operations
Aromantic, a retailer of natural and organic beauty products, operated through its own website and online marketplaces including Amazon and Shopify. It supplied oils, fragrances, and ingredients for customers to craft creams, lotions, balms, toiletries, and spa products. The family-run enterprise has ceased operations, and all employees have been made redundant.
Aromantic generated a £1.1 million turnover and was established in 1997 by Kolbjorn Borseth, who later passed control to his son Benjamin. The company is located on the Greshop Industrial Estate in Forres, Scotland. Christopher Horner and Kevin Pinkerton, of restructuring and insolvency firm Business Rescue Expert, have been appointed joint administrators of Aromantic Limited. They have secured the sale of the company's assets, including stock, websites, and online platforms, to an independent third party. All 11 staff members were made redundant with immediate effect prior to the administration.
Kevin Pinkerton explained: "The fall in revenue, combined with increasing raw material, shipping and employment costs, contributed to the business becoming insolvent. Aromantic took out short-term loans to keep afloat, but the repayment requirements had a material effect on its cashflow. Over the summer, the company sought our assistance to explore ways to keep the business going. Working with the director, we tried every avenue to enable Aromantic to continue trading or sell it as a going concern, but regrettably, a formal insolvency process was the only option."
Footwear Marketplace Laced Rescued
Laced Europe Ltd operates as an online marketplace for purchasing and selling rare trainers and luxury items from global brands including Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Supreme. The business entered administration last month but has since been rescued. Founded in 2015, it facilitated transactions between buyers and sellers of exclusive merchandise. The firm's turnover reached £9 million this year.
Quantuma's Terri Mulgrew and Michael Kiely were appointed joint administrators on September 22. Following their appointment, a pre-pack transaction was completed, safeguarding all positions and ensuring the company's continuity. The deal resulted in all seven employees being transferred to the buyer, A Beauty Inc Ltd, part of the AA Investments group, in accordance with TUPE regulations. A spokesperson for the AA Investment Group stated: "Laced is a strong brand with a real community behind it. We are proud to continue this journey and to welcome the team into the AA Investments family. Customers and sellers can continue to use the platform as service is coming back step by step while we work on its next chapter."
Video Game Developer Enters Administration
Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), a gaming firm headquartered in Edinburgh and founded by former Grand Theft Auto developer Leslie Benzies, entered administration just a year after releasing its first game, MindsEye, in June 2025. Administrators Opus Restructuring have been brought in, and a further 36 positions have been lost. BARB was founded in 2016 and initially developed a multiplayer role-playing game, Everywhere, before shifting focus to the action-adventure title MindsEye.
The game endured a difficult debut, with certain players describing it as "the worst game" of the year and "relentlessly dull". Following the release, it was reported that between 250 and 300 staff members were laid off. Opus Restructuring stated: "The Joint Administrators are undertaking an immediate review and intend to continue trading the business while exploring all available options with a view to maximising value for creditors and other stakeholders. 49 of the Company's 85 employees were retained upon appointment. Those employees who were made redundant will be supported by the Joint Administrators in claiming their statutory entitlements." The firm added: "Interested parties should contact Opus Restructuring LLP for further information at buildarocketboy@opusllp.com."
Other Firms Hit by Administration
Glens of Antrim potatoes has stopped trading after going into administration. The potato provider, established in 1972, went out of business due to pressures that had a "significant and detrimental impact on cashflow." All employees have been made redundant except for a small skeleton staff. Stuart Irwin, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: "Glens of Antrim has been growing and supplying potatoes across Ireland for over 50 years, so this is a tremendously sad outcome for the business, its dedicated team, the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland, and the wider community in Ballymena and Cushendall."
Ceco, a Northern Ireland-based subsidiary of floor coverings distributor Headlam Group, has also entered administration. Ceco was established in 1978 and is a prominent provider of flooring products in Ireland. Ian Leonard, director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: "Ceco built a strong reputation across Northern Ireland over many years, working with architects, interior designers, universities and education bodies on a range of prestigious commercial projects. It is particularly sad to see a business of this quality reach this point as a consequence of the challenges experienced by the wider Headlam group. Our immediate priority is to support the employees affected by this news. We will also be engaging with customers and suppliers to fulfil outstanding orders where possible, and will be exploring options for the brand and assets of the business in due course."
