A historic food distributor in the UK, famous for supplying Pukka Pies, is understood to have fallen into liquidation in another blow to the economy.
G.M. Jones and Sons, a food wholesaler that has operated for nearly four decades, entered liquidation earlier this week.
The company, which began trading in 1989, has been distributing Pukka Pies alongside various other products to fast food establishments throughout the West Midlands, Staffordshire, and Shropshire.
Liquidators were appointed to the business on Monday this week as it prepares to "voluntarily wind up", The Sun reports.
A historic food distributor has fallen into liquidation
|GETTY / PA / G.M. JONES & SON
The collapse comes despite the wholesaler reporting year-on-year sales growth on its website, making it the latest British firm to cease operations through the liquidation process.
Companies House filings indicate that Timothy Frank Corfield from Griffin & King has been appointed to oversee the liquidation proceedings.
The legal process typically involves selling off company assets to generate funds for distribution among creditors and shareholders.
According to its website, the wholesaler described itself as "one of a handful of companies that sell Pukka Pies products, in fresh, frozen and unbaked form".
The food distributor is known for supplying Pukka Pies
|GM JONES AND SONS
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Four graphs prove the UK economy is in serious trouble | GB NEWSBeyond pies, the firm's product range encompassed catering sausages, sausage rolls, saveloys, fishcakes, beef burgers, chicken breasts, Island Delight curry patties, scampi, pasties, and vegetable spring rolls.
Its customer base extended from fish and chip shops to sporting venues, cafes, farm shops, mobile snack bars, pubs, butchers, bakeries, and freezer shops.
Reacting to the liquidation news, a Pukka Pies spokesperson asserted that "supply remains strong nationwide" despite the wholesaler's financial woes.
They explained: "G.M. Jones [and Sons] are one of many suppliers of Pukka Pies.
"We want to reassure customers that there is no impact on the availability of Pukka products.
"As one of our valued wholesale partners for many years, it’s sad to see them, particularly a fellow family-run company, face challenges in today’s competitive market.
"We’ve worked closely with customers to help them transition smoothly to alternative suppliers so people across the UK can continue to enjoy Pukka products as usual."
GB News has contacted G.M. Jones and Sons for comment.