Atkins U.K. Closing Shop 35865

Atkins U.K. Closing Shop

LONDONAtkins NutritionalsU.K. is facing bankruptcy and liquidation due to lagging sales of its dietproducts, according to reports from BBC News.The company is reportedly in theprocess of petitioning the British High Court for appointment of administrators,who will try to secure a buyer for the business. This move to bankruptcy andliquidation could leave unpaid multiple suppliers and other companies who areowed money.

More than three million Britons have tried the Atkins lowcarbohydrate, high protein diet, but sales of the Atkins-branded products havebeen recently suffering at the hands of competitors. Despite lackluster U.K.sales, the Atkins diet remains popular in Britain. Executives from both the European Mens Health Forum and theNational Obesity Forum confirmed the benefits of a low carb lifestyle inreducing obesity.

Atkins might have succumbed to competition from companies suchas Xcarb, which offers a range of low carb products. The reason Atkins failedin the U.K. is that its foods were engineered for the U.S. market, and peoplefound the choice too limiting, said Dave Marshall, M.D., of Xcarb. TheU.K. consumer missed the staples of mash, cereals and pasta as well as sweetalternatives such as chocolate and fruit. He added Britons also missed theconvenience of ready meals and found the Atkins diet prohibitive and expensive.