Hello It was a symbol of Ancoats’ remarkable rejuvenation. But now the company behind much-loved bakery Trove has gone into liquidation with more than £1.6m of debt and troubling claims over its pension duties.
The mini-chain started out in Levenshulme in 2011 before expanding to outlets in Manchester city centre , Ancoats and Wilmslow , along with industrial premises in Heaton Chapel where the sourdough, croissants and sausage rolls it was famed for were baked. The notice in the window of Trove in Ancoats (Image: Manchester Evening News) But, on Friday (May 31), a ‘forfeiture notice’ was posted on the door of the flagship branch at Murray Street , Ancoats. And now, Ethan Davies reports, it can be revealed the parent company, Two Hexagons Ltd, owes £1,652,851.
82 to creditors, according to a statement of affairs posted on Companies House on the same day as a winding up petition. That sum includes £941,423.41 to HM Revenue and Customs in tax and £24,900 to The Pensions Regulator, the public body which regulates workplace pensions.
Meanwhile, ex-staff have claimed to the Manchester Evening News that they believe they could be owed thousands in unpaid pension contributions, while others believe they were never enrolled on a pension scheme at all. A representative from the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union has confirmed it has a formal grievance process open representing one employee. At the same time, former staff claim they could be owed thousands in unpaid pension.