Whites stores formally close

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An application to wind up the two remaining Whites grocery stores in an effort to repay creditors was approved yesterday in the Commercial Court.

The order to wind Whites at Haywards Ltd and Whites at Southside Ltd came fast on the heels of similar orders to wind up White & Sons in Warwick, which shut its doors earlier this month.

A total of 33 creditors came forward in support of the petitions to close the three stores, according to Butterfield and Vallis lawyer Debbie Correia.

Kim White, who represented White & Sons during the brief hearing, did not object to the application, which was approved by Chief Justice Ian Kawaley

Charles Thresh and Michael Morrison of KPMG Advisory Ltd were appointed to act as joint provisional liquidators.

Allan Doughty represented the Bermuda Land Development Corporation, who supported the winding-up petition for the Southside store.

A writ to wind up White & Sons Ltd was filed in Supreme Court in July by shipping company IBC. Butterfield and Vallis filed writs to wind up the two sister stores in August.

Acting Chief Justice Charles-Etta Simmons approved the winding up of Whites in Warwick on August 10. The following week, liquidator KPMG announced that it had been unable to find a buyer for the store.

The store was reopened in order to sell remaining stock at 25 to 50 percent off; the other two stores offered drastic sales of their own.

Both stores were shut down on August 15 at a court hearing that legal representatives for Whites did not attend.

Staff at the three stores have alleged that they have been working without health insurance for months despite deductions being taken from their pay.

Representatives for Whites and KPMG did not respond to questions by press time last night.

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