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Toast - C&A's UK Stores

Toast - C&A's UK Stores

Sliced Bread
Dec 18, 2025 25 min
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About this episode

<p>The fashion chain C&amp;A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores? </p><p>The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.</p><p>C&amp;A used to be one of the biggest fashion retailers on the UK's high streets until a shock decision in 2000 led to the stores' sudden closure.</p><p>To help explain what happened, Sean and Sam delve into the BBC archives and hear from expert guests including Donna Bevan - fashion historian, lecturer and course leader at the School of Creative Industries at Southampton Solent University and Stephen McDermott who worked at C&amp;A for 35 years.</p><p>Produced by Jon Douglas, Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.</p><p>If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.uk</p>

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