PwC administrators to wind down Palmer & Harvey McLane as 23 Scottish jobs go

Matthew Callaghan, Ian Green and Zelf Hussein of PwC, who had been appointed joint administrators of wholesaler Palmer & Harvey McLane after the firm was placed in administration, have announced the business is to be liquidated with the loss of 404 jobs across the UK and 23 in Scotland.

Following the appointment on 28th November, the team said they have been exploring a sale of P&H Direct Van Sales Limited, P&H Sweetdirect Limited and P&H Snacksdirect Limited, and all subsidiaries of Palmer & Harvey McLane (Holdings) Ltd.

However, while PwC said their efforts had generated interest in the business, which serviced the multiples, convenience, forecourt and CTN sectors, it was not possible to secure a buyer and as a result the administrators made the unavoidable decision to make 404 people redundant across the country, retaining a small number of staff to help with the wind down of the business.

In Scotland, this breaks down to 16 jobs in Bellshill, 7 in Livingston and two in Dundee.

Matthew Callaghan, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: “We have been working closely with the Directors of the Vans business to pursue a sale. However it is with regret that we have to announce this has not been successful.

“We will be working with those being made redundant, as we have with those made redundant previously to assist and provide support where possible.”

The PwC trio were appointment joint administrators of the following on 28 November 2017: