Northern Electric stores remained shut today as the crisis-hit retailer continues administration talks.
Staff were told on Friday that the stores, which include seven across Tees Valley, would be shut for 72 hours.
But administrators KPMG confirmed today that the stores would remain closed while discussions were held.
A KPMG spokeswoman said: “The situation is remaining the same as Friday and Monday as discussions are still ongoing.”
Locally, Northern Electric shops employ 49 people, 13 of them at Teesside Retail Park, Stockton, seven each at Darlington and at Bishop Auckland, six each at Middlesbrough, at Redcar and Hartlepool and four at its Stockton store.
Receivers have been appointed to the Shop Electric Group, the holding company and its two trading subsidiaries – Northern Retail Limited, which trades as Northern Electric and B2C Support Services Ltd, a warranty support company.
The Gateshead-based group, which employs a total of 500 staff, has an annual turnover of £80m and operates 25 retail outlets.
It is not owned by power company Northern Electric.
Stores were closed so administrators could carry out a stock-take but the KPMG spokeswoman could not confirm when they would reopen.
The Northern Electric shops business was sold by power supplier Northern Electric Plc to an independent company last June.
>From icteeside.co.uk