Pet products wholesaler and distributor Kennelpak has been put into administration by its owners, private equity firm Endless.
Kerry Bailey and Mark Thornton of BDO were appointed joint administrators of Kennelpak on Thursday (July 3).
The company distributed a portfolio of wholly-owned and imported brands, including Yakers, Whimzees, Diamond Naturals and the recently-launched Dylan dental treats. The administrators have completed a “pre-pack” sale of the Yakers brand together with stock and other associated assets to Assisi Pet Care.
A total of 51 people has been made redundant at Kennelpak, including staff in business development, supply chain and marketing roles, out of the total roster of more than 200 employees. The joint administrators say they are “exploring options” for the sale of the remaining assets of the company.
Bailey said: “Kennelpak is a well-established operator within the pet food sector. We are delighted to have secured a sale of the Yakers brand and continuity for the company’s suppliers and customers of a well-known brand.
“Regrettably, on appointment we have had to make 51 people redundant and we are supporting them to make their claims to the redundancy payments service.”
Endless took over Nottingham-based Kennelpak via its Enact SME fund in 2017. Last August it agreed the sale of the Pets & Friends retail chain to PSR and also the Collards dog food brand to Pedigree Wholesale, part of the same group of companies as PSR.
In Kennelpak’s latest set of accounts, running to the end of March 2024, turnover had risen from £33.8m to £37.1m, while the company had recovered from a loss of £409,138 in 2023 to a profit of £463,622.
