Collapsed grocer Melrose & Morgan relaunches with DTC proposition

Independent grocer Melrose & Morgan has been relaunched as a DTC business following its collapse earlier this year.

The Grocer understands its assets were bought out of liquidation by Melrose & Morgan’s former head chef Mauro Faure over the summer.

Faure joined the company in 2007 as chef de partie, working under Melrose & Morgan’s founders, Nick Selby and Ian James.

During his time at the company, he rose up the ranks to become food director and said he “couldn’t let the brand go” when the business was declared insolvent earlier this year.

Faure said he had Selby’s and James’ “full blessings to carry on the legacy” of the brand.

“It’s a brand filled with community and heritage with sustainability at its roots.

“This may be a controversial thing to say, but I don’t think many brands have much soul left in them any more, whereas Melrose & Morgan is brimming with it.”

Melrose & Morgan employees were alerted in May that it was to immediately close both of its London stores – along with its north London kitchen and head office – via a group email.

While The Grocer understands some former employees were still chasing payment in July, Faure now claims to have paid off all of Melrose & Morgan’s outstanding debts.

Melrose & Morgan is currently selling a range of premium grocery items – such as biscuits, chutneys, jams, wines, fruit juices, coffee and chocolates – via its webstore, along with Christmas gift hampers, which launched this week.

It has secured listings for its products in department stores, such as Selfridges and Jarrolds, in addition to independent retailers.