37 jobs saved at famous Troon chippy as WRI strike deal with former owners

A popular Ayrshire fish and chip shop has been saved from going out of business after its fish wholesaling parent company went into administration last month.

Ian Wright and Scott Milne of WRI Associates Limited were appointed joint administrators of MacCallums of Troon Limited on June 4, and the award-winning Wee Hurrie in Troon looked to have had its chips.

But the venture has been thrown back in after a new company formed by the directors James and John MacCallum bought the business.

The Wee Hurrie, together with the nearby Oyster Bar Restaurant and the Coffee, Chocolate and Tea in Glasgow were all rescued as part of the deal which saved 37 jobs.

However, eight jobs have been lost at the MacCallums of Troon wholesale business, which was founded by the MacCallum brothers more than 30 years ago, and the Wee Fry fish shop in Bearsden after both were forced to close their doors.

James and John MacCallum began trading as fish and chip shop operators before moving into wholesaling to supply their own outlets, as well as other restaurants.

The firm was one of the best-known fish and shellfish suppliers in Scotland, but ran into financial difficulties after its profits were hampered by bad debts.

The seafood supplier, whose client list included a “who’s who” of leading fish restaurants, was owed money by several creditors, mostly thought to be other suppliers, and also faced competitions from UK-wide chains in recent years.