February’s listicle

Sadly, shortest month sees no shortage of business failures

01 March 2024

Business

February’s listicle once again highlighted several struggling and closing print businesses, although there was still room for Walstead’s powerful new CEO Debbie Read, plus the tale of a major cannabis farm discovery in an abandoned printing works.

1 Severn Print closes just months after purchase 5,408 clicks
Severn Print has entered liquidation just four months after being purchased by the Handel Group, after a key client pulled its £1.5m contract.

2 Greenshires Group files NOI 4,347 clicks
The future for Greenshires Group is unclear after the business filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators.

3 Cannabis grown at former print works 3,110 clicks
Cannabis plants worth millions of pounds have been found growing in an abandoned printing works.

4 End of the line for Greenshires 2,508 clicks
Greenshires Group has gone into administration, with all employees laid off.

5 DMG issues notice of redundancy to print site workers, CMA launches probe into proposed JV 2,378 clicks
DMG Media has issued notices of redundancy to all the workers at its Dinnington and Thurrock sites, in the same week as the CMA announced an official inquiry into its proposed newspaper printing joint venture with News UK.

6 Raft of McMurray firms flagged for overdue filings 2,368 clicks
A dozen ‘active’ businesses where PFI Group CEO Darren McMurray is listed as a director are now flagged as having overdue filings at Companies House.

7 Owners move to reassure Ancient House stakeholders 2,284 clicks
The owners of Ancient House Printing Group have moved to reassure suppliers and customers that the business will not be affected by a winding up petition filed against its former holding company, amid changes to the investment group’s structure.

8 Remous Group acquires Wincanton Digital Print in pre-pack 2,225 clicks
Remous Group has bought Wincanton Digital Print out of administration in a pre-pack deal, just over a month after it acquired Wells Printing in a similar deal.

9 Read takes on UK CEO role at Walstead 2,217 clicks
Walstead Group’s Debbie Read has become CEO of its UK business, reinforcing her position as one of the most powerful women in UK print.

10 Surepak enters administration; looks for buyers 2,067 clicks
Nottinghamshire packaging firm Surepak has entered administration after growing overheads – including a 425% hike in its electricity bill – cut into its cashflow.