The administrators are already in discussions with “a significant number of interested parties” and they said that the company would continue to trade in the meantime.

Alexandra, which supplies workwear and uniforms to businesses including those in the hospitality, healthcare, industrial and retail sectors, has its headquarters at Thornbury in Bristol. It employs 484 people at Thornbury, Aztec West, Swindon, Langley, Edinburgh and Uddingston near Glasgow.

The company’s subsidiaries are not currently subject to insolvency procedures, although the administrators are reviewing these businesses. The subsidiaries employ 174 full-time-equivalent staff in Morocco, seven in the UK, eight in Southern Ireland and eight in Holland.

Joint administrator Rob Lewis said: “The Alexandra name is a strong one in the workwear market and the market share that the business has in the UK will make it an attractive prospect for interested parties.”