Oxford News
UK wholesaler servicing Morrisons closes amid liquidation
Localist – The Food Merchant, based in East Kilbride, entered liquidation earlier this year, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs.
The company delivered around 4,000 products per week to more than 2,500 retail outlets across the UK, including major retailers such as Morrisons, Co-op, and Waitrose.
Originally launched in 1994 as Food From Scotland Ltd, the business aimed to support independent food producers in Scotland.
It later expanded its reach across the UK under the name Enterprise Foods Ltd before rebranding to Localist – The Food Merchant in 2025.
Update on Localist – The Food Merchant after falling into liquidation
George Lafferty of BTG was appointed provisional liquidator by Hamilton Sheriff Court back on March 18.
In the latest update, Mr Lafferty has now been confirmed as the permanent liquidator.
Earlier this year, the managing partner of BTG in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Thomas McKay, said: “The directors had made efforts to restructure the debt of the company in order to save the business and rescue the jobs, and the loss of the jobs was sadly inevitable when this was not successful.
“There are many small suppliers to the business that are owed money, and the loss of this route to market will also have a serious knock-on effect on these food producers as well.
“We are working to assess all claims and establish whether there will be any dividend paid to unsecured creditors, but it is not likely to be significant, given the level of secured debts in the business.
“Regrettably, the failure of the company has resulted in 71 redundancies and we are working closely with those affected to help them access the financial entitlements and support available to them, including assistance from Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) and the Redundancy Payments Service.”
Mr McKay said the company’s priority is now to maximise returns for creditors and ensure that redundant employees receive the support and guidance they need during the winding-up process.
Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026
It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.
Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores, having fallen into administration.
UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.
Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:
Seven UK travel companies have ceased trading in 2026:
Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages also shut down back in April after entering administration.
Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:
UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.
It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.
It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
Plus-size clothing brand Evans has also returned to the UK high street in 2026 after closing all its stores and concessions in December 2020.
Which store closure has impacted you the most in 2026? Let us know in the comments below.
The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for Wednesday June 24 until Thursday June 25, which covers most of England, including Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire Household Waste and Recycling Centres will open at 8am but close early at 1pm daily.
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This includes the seven sites run by Oxfordshire County Council, including Alkerton in Banbury, Ardley in Bicester, Dix Pit in Stanton Harcourt, Drayton in Abingdon, Oakley Wood in Wallingford, Redbridge in Oxford, and Stanford in the Vale in Faringdon.
Visitors who have already booked a slot outside of the sites’ closing times have been notified by the booking system, saving any wasted journeys as a result of the early closures.
A spokesman for the recycling centres said: “Thanks to the booking system, we have been able to notify those who had booked a slot, saving any wasted journeys as a result of this early closure.
“Those who had bookings have been invited to rebook their visit for an alternative time.
“For further information about the extreme heat and how it may affect local services, please visit: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/extreme-heat/.”
Thames Valley Police was called to Daisy Crescent in Eynsham at around 11.20am on Sunday June 7, where they found a woman in her 50s unresponsive.
She died at the scene and in the days following a 58-year-old man from the village was arrested on suspicion of murder.
READ MORE: Woman named and charged after Oxford emergency worker ‘assault’
He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries with the police scene having since been lifted.
The force added that the woman’s death remains “unexplained” and that her next of kin have been informed.
In addition, they have been approached for comment as to why news of the murder investigation was not released in the days after the incident.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We were called by South Central Ambulance Service to an address in Daisy Crescent, Eynsham, at around 11.20am on Sunday 7 June following reports of a sudden death.
“We attended the property and found a woman aged in her fifties inside the property who was unresponsive. Sadly, she died at the scene.
“The woman’s death is currently being treated as unexplained. Her next of kin have been informed and offered our support.
READ MORE: Oxford landscape gardener found dead after heroin and cocaine use
“A 58-year-old man from Eynsham has been arrested on suspicion of murder and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
“An investigation is ongoing and we believe this to be an isolated incident with no further risk to the public.
“The scene watch has now been lifted.”
In a statement outside 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir said his party had asked “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.
He said: “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, said Sir Keir’s resignation as prime minister comes as “no surprise” to him.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire Conservative leader calls for ‘stability’ in government
READ MORE: Oxfordshire MP ‘sad’ as Keir Starmer quits and ‘should’ve been given more time’
The Liberal Democrat said: “By September, we will have had five prime ministers in four years. The UK is relying on a broken political system that continues to let people down.
“Local businesses are being forced to close their doors, residents are unable to access GP appointments, and schools are reaching breaking point.
“We need to address the root cause: our voting system. The facts are simple: we are fighting a losing battle unless we address the root cause of the issue: our voting system.
“We cannot keep swapping Prime Ministers to ‘fix’ the UK; only a move towards a proportional, representative electoral system will ensure people’s voices are heard and drive the change that is so desperately needed.”
The past decade has seen a rapid turnover in prime ministers, beginning with Theresa May (2016-19), then Boris Johnson (2019-22), Liz Truss (2022), Rishi Sunak (2022-24) and now Sir Keir Starmer (2024-26), with the next premier due to take office by September.
By contrast, the preceding four decades saw only six people occupy 10 Downing Street: Jim Callaghan (1976-79), Margaret Thatcher (1979-90), John Major (1990-97), Tony Blair (1997-2007), Gordon Brown (2007-10) and David Cameron (2010-16).
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