Another Scottish brewer acquired in a pre-pack administration
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Innis & Gunn
An Independent Scottish brewer has been acquired by Tennent’s owner C&C group in a pre-pack administration deal this week for £4.5 million.
This is the second major Scottish brewery insolvency this month following Brewdog’s purchase from administration.
Innis & Gunn supplied UK supermarkets with its range of bottles and cans as well as operating its own taprooms in Glasgow and Edinburgh and a brewery in Perth that are not covered in the sale and will likely close.
Dougal Sharp, who founded the brand in 2003, said: “Today is a very difficult day, first and foremost for the brilliant people who have worked so hard to build Innis & Gunn over the past 23 years.
“I’m immensely proud of everything our team achieved together, creating a distinctive Scottish beer brand enjoyed by customers at home and around the world. I’m deeply sorry to everyone affected – particularly my colleagues who have lost their jobs and the shareholders who believed in what we were building. It’s been a bruising process for everyone.
“While this outcome is not what any of us hoped for, I’m glad the brand has found a home with C&C Group. Despite today’s news, I remain incredibly proud of the brand, the beer and the community that grew around it.”
La Garrigue
A luxury French bistro that had been serving Edinburgh diners for over 25 years has closed and gone into liquidation.
La Garrigue was based in Jeffrey Street and founded by Jean Michel Gauffre eventually earning a place on Gordon Ramsay’s Best Restaurants.
The decision to liquidate was voluntary with Mr Gauffre dividing his time between consultancy work in Scotland and wine tours in the South of France. The closure reflects wider pressures affecting the hospitality sector such as rising staff costs and tax increases.
WCM
An automobile component manufacturer based in Basildon has gone into administration.
WCM provides components to a number of recognisable vehicle manufacturers and are seeking a buyer while continuing to trade at their main base and their engineering site in Coventry.
Administrators have confirmed that the company experienced increasing financial pressures including the impact of the failure of a key customer along with wider issues experienced across most of the UK automotive supply chain in the last few years.
Despite directors exploring a number of potential options to address these challenges, the financial position continued to deteriorate and concluded that the appointment of administrators was required.
Short-term funding was secured enabling an additional four-week trading period while a buyer is sought for the business and/or its assets.
Grays Transport
A family-run logistics company based in Derbyshire has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators while completing a “planned restructure” designed to secure its long-term future.
Grays Transport is based in Ripley and specialises in moving furniture from manufacturers to retailers.
A statement from managing director Jennifer Evans said the business has “faced a series of significant commercial challenges over the past two years, many of which were outside of our control and reflective of wider pressures across the UK furniture sector.”
These included the sudden loss of major contracts, the impact of key customers entering administration and the “broader slowdown affecting the sector”. Together these events had created a particularly difficult trading environment for the business.
“The NOI has been filed to allow time for the final stages of a process designed to secure the long-term future of the business, protect our customers and safeguard as many jobs as possible.”
King Foods
41 positions have been lost after an Aberdeen food business went into administration.
King Foods was founded in 1994 and supplied a range including frozen foods and fresh fish products to hotel and retail catering outlets in the east of Scotland as well as Stirling and Edinburgh.
Foodstore Ltd traded as King Foods and had experienced adverse trading for a number of years due to increased competition and cost price inflation. This was exacerbated by challenges faced by hospitality and catering companies.
The business ceased trading in February while administrators were appointed. Once there was no prospect of trade resuming, staff were reluctantly made redundant.
They will now market the company’s business and assets including a cold storage facility in Aberdeen along with their vehicle fleet and other properties.
HPL Prototypes
A specialist automotive coachwork and prototyping company in Coventry went into administration this week.
HPL Prototypes employs 68 people producing concept cars, show vehicles and prototype components for prestigious automotive brands including McLaren, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martine, Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus and Gordon Murray Automotive.
HPL was formed in 2003 and blended traditional handcrafting and modelling skills with digital manufacturing and virtual design techniques.
In late 2023, HPL launched an offshoot brand called Allesley aimed at bespoke luxury coachbuilding for ultra-high net worth private clients.
Oenofuture Limited
The High Court has appointed the Official Receiver as the liquidator of a London fine wine importer and investment group.
Oneofuture Limited trading as Oneo Group was set up in 2016 and great to comprise a number of different operations including a fine wine investmentarm and OneoTrade, which connected wine investors with the private trade sector, along with a boutique wine bar Oneo House at the Royal Exchange, developed to provide a unique “liquidation pathway” for clients, selling stock on their behalf to customer.
The business ceased trading in February and The Official Receiver will continue to assist in the winding down of the company in accordance with her statutory duties. The Official Receiver will also inquire into the cause of the company’s failure and conduct of the current and former directors as well as informing the 2,600 investors on their progress.
Amber Energy Solutions
A Cardiff-based energy company has gone into administration with more than 130 staff being made redundant.
Amber Energy Solutions provided energy consultancy and data services to multi-site property portfolios, landlords and infrastructure operators across the UK.
The appointment followed a period of financial pressure on the business, during which the company experienced cash-flow challenges and a decline in revenues throughout 2025.
An accelerated marketing process took place to explore options for the business and its assets and while there was initial interest from a number of parties, only limited asset sales were ultimately achievable. A solvent sale was also explored but did not proceed after interested parties withdrew. The administrators immediately completed the sale of certain assets.
A statement was issued saying: “Amber Energy Solutions has established a well-regarded offering in its sector but was unable to overcome sustained cash flow pressures.
“We explored options to secure a wider going concern solution, however this was not achievable in the circumstances. While sales of certain assets have been completed, the majority of roles have unfortunately been made redundant.”
Depending what line of business you operate in, these could be a nervous few weeks and months ahead.
Take the time now to get in touch with us to arrange a free initial consultation.
Our advisors will be able to talk through your current situation and your plans for the business and let you know what options you have available that you might not have considered.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin to work together and make your plans a reality – sooner.