Doubts over the future of buying group Key Lekkerland have surfaced following Palmer & Harvey McLane's purchase of member WH & HM Young, a Leeds-based wholesaler.

The acquisition leaves Key Lekkerland, which supplies independent stores operating under the KeyStore fascia, with just one independent member - Scottish wholesaler JW Filshill. Of the remaining members, T&A Symonds and WH & HM Young are now owned by P&H, while the fourth, Blueheath, has been acquired by Booker.

Both P&H and Key Lekkerland have insisted they will continue to work together. "We remain committed to Key Lekkerland," said Julian Streeter, MD for operations at P&H. "We demonstrated this when we bought T&A Symonds in August last year and this position will not change with Young's."

But one senior industry figure said the sale of Young's could make the demise of Key Lekkerland inevitable - and potentially leave Key Lekkerland's symbol fascia KeyStore with a presence in Scotland only.

"I think after the current contracts for Key Lekkerland run out, they will simply be absorbed into Booker and P&H," he said.

But John Liptrot, MD of Key Lekkerland, said P&H told him it was committed to supporting the buying group by continuing to invest in opening new KeyStores.

Booker also insisted it had no plans to withdraw from Key Lekkerland.

Topics