Local firms angry after Mackenzies smokehouse and farm shop falls into liquidation but applies to keep name

More than 20 local firms are among those owed money by Mackenzies.

A creditor, who asked not to be named, told The Yorkshire Post: “It's disgusting, it really is, but it's one of those things where there's nothing that we can do.

“They’re going to continue trading a Mackenzies Smoke House, so to the general public, nothing has happened.

“I think it's just disgusting.”

Both Mackenzies and liquidators Clark Business Recovery did not respond to requests for comment.

In a letter sent to creditors, the firm's director, Paul James Palmer, stated his intention to continue to use names currently associated with the company, including Mackenzies Smokehouse and Mackenzies Farm Shop and Cafe – subject to court approval.

The rights to use the name Mackenzies Farm Shop and Cafe are held by MFS&C Limited, a company set up less than three months prior to the liquidation. Mr Palmer’s wife Gabby Palmer is the director of MFS&C Limited.

Yorkshire Speciality Foods, which was incorporated in September of 2022, reserves the right to the use of the name Mackenzies Smokehouse.

On December 30, Yorkshire Speciality Foods registered a change of address from the address it previously shared with Mackenzies Smokehouse. Gabby Palmer was also listed as a person with significant control of the company in September.

A number of local firms told The Yorkshire Post they were unhappy with the way in which they had been treated by Mackenzies during the liquidation.

Another creditor, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s a really bad thing to do. Producers in Yorkshire all look after each other and help each other out when they need it, and for them to do this, it’s just terrible. We aren’t happy at all.”

Mackenzies Smoked Products Limited owes a total of £1,025,690.40 in the liquidation, including more than £40,000 to HMRC.

In its most recent full accounts, filed in December of 2021, Mackenzies employed around 36 people.

In March 2022, Mackenzies also opened a new cafe and mini-shop in Harrogate.

Their website states Paul and Gabby Palmer took over Mackenzies in 2019. This came after Mr Palmer left his job as director of Bleiker’s Smokehouse, which was founded by Ms Palmer’s father.

Administrators were appointed to Bleiker’s Smokehouse in May last year, after Mr Palmer resigned as a director on April 30. At the time of the company entering administration, it was revealed that the firm was under investigation from the National Food Crime Unit for food fraud. More than 80 jobs were also lost.