Sliced Bread - Toast - C&A's UK Stores
Download Toast - C&A's UK Stores
The fashion chain C&A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores?
The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.
C&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.
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&A for 35 years.
Produced by Jon Douglas, Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.uk
Published on Thursday, 18th December 2025.
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