No takers have emerged for the van sales division of collapsed wholesaler Palmer & Harvey, and so the business will be wound down by the administrators.

Since the appointment on 28 November, administrators from PwC have been exploring a sale of P&H Direct Van Sales Limited, P&H Sweetdirect Limited and P&H Snacksdirect Limited, all subsidiaries of Palmer & Harvey McLane (Holdings) Ltd. The firm commented that while there had been interest in the business, it had not been possible to achieve a sale. As a result, 404 people – representing the bulk of the remaining P&H workforce – have been made redundant, with only a small number of staff retained to help with the wind-down of the business.

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.”

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