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.