Supie staff still out of pocket after collapse

The first liquidators’ report on Supie has shed some light on the financial trouble facing the failed online grocer.

Supie ceased trading on October 30, having been put in voluntary liquidation along with related companies Workerly Limited and Bevie Limited. Staff were let go without receiving their final wages, redundancy pay or having annual leave paid out.

According to the financial records of Workerly — which was primarily responsible for employing and managing staff — $120,797 in wages and/or holiday pay remains outstanding to approximately 89 employees, the liquidators’ report said.

This is despite an “anonymous and substantial” cash contribution coming through in the week of Supie’s demise, which was to help cover the final wages of staff. Workerly employed about 120 staff. Supie owes more than $2.1 million to 4181 unsecured creditors, the liquidators’ report said.

They include NZ Post, Foodstuffs and Woolworths, Z Energy, New Zealand King Salmon, Allpress Espresso, Trade Aid Importers, NZME, Facebook New Zealand, the New Zealand Sugar Company, Kellogg’s and Coca-Cola Amatil.

Inland Revenue has filed a preferential claim for outstanding GST, PAYE and other related employee deductions to the tune of $881,770 from Workerly.

Administrators Richard Nacey and Stephen White, of PwC, said they were working with secured creditors while attempting to realise a sale of the company’s assets.

A process to return highly perishable inventory to suppliers with valid security interests was also under way.

The liquidators report found Supie had $179,443 in funds in the bank on the day of appointment.

The reason given for Supie’s failure was a lack of sales volume and scale to operate the business profitably, the report said.

“Further, we understand that the business was actively attracting investment capital to fund growth but was unable to secure the required level of investment.”