A UK haulage firm faces potential closure after a petition to wind up the business was filed, following 16 years of operation. The London Gazette revealed that a petition to wind up Ian Robinson Transport Limited had been submitted, with the details published in the early hours of July 10.

There is no information on what the news will mean for job cuts in the sector at this early stage. Filing a petition to wind up a company is usually a legal application to the court seeking the liquidation of an insolvent company.

Ian Robinson started his haulage company back in 2010 with just one truck, and it now boasts up to 20 vehicles.

Its fleet is equipped with a range of models, including everything from 44-tonne trucks to flat-bed and box trailers. Ian Robinson Transport Limited describes itself as a general haulage company, but the firm does specialise in the transportation of hazardous waste materials.

The firm explained that its drivers are ADR trained and provided with “all the relevant equipment to carry out these jobs”. The company has two haulage yards, with their main base located in Bamber Bridge and a secondary yard in St Helens.

Ian Robinson Transport Limited has previously struggled with rising petrol and diesel costs, with the business previously implementing a “fuel surcharge”.

The additional fee was added to invoices from March 14, 2022, with their website suggesting that customers paid 5% more for services in early 2025.

The business explained that fuel was “one of [the] biggest overheads over which we have no direct control.”

Express.co.uk has contacted Ian Robinson Transport Limited for comment.

Morrisons is relaunching its popular food counters in phases after receiving “widespread backlash”. The major retailer scrapped its 35 meat and 35 fish bars, impacting 70 UK stores in a bid to cut costs last year.

It also closed all 18 of its Market Kitchen sites, 52 cafes, 13 florists and four pharmacies. The removal of these counters was felt by many Morrisons customers as a loss of personal interaction. Now, Morrisons is set to reopen several Market Street locations in the coming months. Signs have also appeared in stores reading “fresh cuts are back on the block” with “skilled butchers” returning.

According to The Grocer, senior bosses acknowledge that the cost-cutting might have been exaggerated at the time. The reopening proposals are part of Morrisons’ relaunch of its Magic strategy, which it outlined at its annual IGD conference in June. The counters will still feature the “traditional” manned service; however, they will also include flatbeds and more grab-and-go options as part of the upgrade.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Our Market Street counters are part of our DNA. They are at the heart of our offer and a real differentiator for Morrisons.”

The retailer also noted that the time since the closures was used to enhance counter-operation efficiency, specifically by improving waste yield. As part of the Market Street revival, a digital modernisation will be introduced, including the installation of electronic ordering screens at pizza counters.

While further rollouts are expected over the coming months, the relaunch has already taken place at several locations, including Thornbury, Herne Bay, Newcastle’s Great Park, and Yeadon in Leeds.

Speaking on the return of the counters, one person took to Facebook and wrote: “They add to the customer’s experience, choice and interaction.”

Customers slammed the closures last year. One person wrote on Reddit: “‘It is a shame as it does take the human element out of serving, which a lot of customers love.’

Another added: “The one thing Morrisons had going for itself was its pizza/dessert/deli counters.”

A family-founded company that’s supplied Chinese food to restaurants across the UK for decades has plunged into administration. Ming Foods Limited is the latest food business to unwantingly find itself on the government-run business notice site, The Gazette, as the pastry specialists from Kent runs out of steam.

The company operates off of Maidstone Road in Swanley, Kent, has been in business since 1984. Founders Mr and Mrs Minh started their business humbly from out of their kitchen, before progressing into a restaurant and then a manufacturing business.

However, lately, the business has not been doing so well. According to Company Check, their total current liabilities has been steadily increasing since 2020, and both their net worth and cash have also been decreasing since this time as well.

The company Ming Foods Limited itself specialises in the production of Chinese Pancakes, which they describe on their website as being “premium.” As well as producing pancakes, they also use innovative ideas in order to improve the quality of their product, such as adapting a pasta roller into a piece of equipment that makes pancakes.

On Companies House, they have three outstanding charges, although their full accounts haven’t been made public since 2024.

The notice was formally handed to them on June 24, and the administration process will be overseen by Steven Wright, from The Dains Group in Scotland.

They have also had recent problems with management too. Just before the company entered administration, they had appointed a director for just six days, who was then terminated.

They also distribute across the UK and the EU, to oriental wholesalers who then provide the product to supermarket chains and restaurants.

They also produce spring roll wrappers, and double strength self raising flour.

It is unclear at this stage whether both trading has ceased or if jobs are at risk, but we have contacted both the company and the administrators for comment.

Asda has increased its hourly rate for store-based workers from today, (July 5) following a previous rise in April. On April 1, the supermarket chain boosted the hourly rate for workers outside the M25 from £12.60 to £12.71.

Those working inside the M25 saw hourly pay jump from £13.82 to £13.93. The increases were the first part of a two-step pay uplift, with the second increase coming into effect from today. The hourly rate has now increased to £13.10 for those outside the M25, and to £14.35 for those working within it. Asda, which has more than 1,000 stores across the country, said at the time of the phased increase announcement that it would result in 110,000 hourly‑paid retail colleagues receiving a 4% above‑inflation pay rise.

The pay reward represented an £80million investment, the chain said.

James Goodman, chief people officer, Asda, said at the time: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to give them an above‑inflation pay award and invest in this way. I’d also like to thank them for their continued hard work and commitment to making Asda better every day.”

Asda is among a number of other supermarkets that announced increases to the hourly rate for shop floor workers to retain and attract staff, as cost-of-living pressures continue to hit British households.

For example, Sainsbury’s brought in an above-inflation pay increase of 5% for hourly paid workers from March, with hourly pay rising to £13.23 per hour nationally, whilst in London it rose to £14.54 per hour.

In London, entry-level store workers saw their pay upped to £14.80 per hour, while the hourly rate for experienced staff can rise up to £15.35.

The following month, Store Assistants working at Aldi’s UK branches also saw their pay boosted (to £13.50 per hour nationally, with those working inside in the M25 getting £14.88).

These pay rates rise to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service. Others major chains improved pay included Lidl, Primark, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Tesco.