CATEGORY 

Chief Restructuring Officer ​

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CHALLENGE 

A food distribution and retail business with a 75-year operating history faced leadership disruption due to the sudden illness of its owner-CEO. The financial position was unclear, and continued trading risks were rising. ​

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SOLUTION 

A CRO was deployed within 7 days, leading a structured operational and financial review: ​

• Led customer and supplier communication. 

• Conducted viability assessment, uncovering inaccurate reporting and trading losses. 

• Prepared asset realisation scenarios including inventory, receivables, property and transport assets. 

• Determined that an orderly wind-down would maximise value. 

• Managed structured asset sales. 

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IMPACT ​​​

• Successfully avoided formal insolvency. 

• Paid all suppliers, employees, and secured stakeholders in full. 

• Maximised recoveries through orderly wind-down. 

• Preserved industry goodwill, founder and brand reputation. 

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WHY IT MATTERS 

Experienced interim leadership ensured a dignified, solvent closure that protected stakeholders and preserved equity.