Inverawe Smokehouses could be ordered to close and staff could lose their jobs amid financial struggles. Workers at the Taynuilt-based family firm claim they are owed around £60,000 in unpaid wages. A Lorne Fisheries Limited – the company under which Inverawe Smokehouses operates – was lodged by creditor Menzies Parcels Limited at Oban Sheriff Court on November 6.
It is understood Lorne Fisheries Limited will defend the action. If the firm submits a defence, the court may organise a hearing to decide whether to make a – which would force the company to stop trading – and appoint a liquidator. All staff could lose their jobs and the liquidator would sell the company assets to pay off its debt.
Inverawe holds Royal Warrant was founded in 1974 by Robert and Rosie Campbell-Preston. It holds a Royal Warrant, granted by HM Queen Elizabeth II, for mail-order smoked food and hampers. The company is now run by their son Patrick Campbell-Preston and is understood to have around 18 employees.
12 staff have told The Press and Journal they are owed money from the firm. Seven employees claim they were last paid a partial salary in August – a claim which Mr Campbell-Preston didn’t deny. Staff also claim the firm has not paid their pension contributions or National Insurance contributions.
They received letters from government-backed workplace pension scheme provider Nest in October, informing them that Inverawe had been reported to The Pensions Regulator over “late payment of.
