TTJ made repeated calls to WT Burden Ltd’s Bristol headquarters today but calls were not being answered.
Eventually, an employee confirmed staff meetings had been taking place but could not comment further as to their nature.
Twenty-eight branches and the Kent-based Ecomerchant business, which sells several wood-based products, were not included in the Wolseley acquisiton. Wolseley is paying £30m for the 22 branches and exclusivity to the Burdens name in the UK, with 600 employees joining the group.
Burdens said recently that it had been making good progress on a strategic review of the business and had filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator with the court, although it said the notice had not meant it would go into administration.
Sources have told TTJ that hauliers have refused to make Ecomerchant deliveries in recent weeks because of alleged payment difficulties.
Burdens concentrates on products for the utilities, infrastructure and consruction sectors, but its Ecomerchant division also sells timber windows, wood fire insulation (Steico and Pavatex brands), Panelvent wood-fibre racking board and wood wool panels.
Wolseley said its acquisition did not include Ecomerchant. An Ecomerchant employee told TTJ that the division was still trading.
