Unwins chairman Phillip Cook has told employees that those who do not follow the new business plan should “seek employment elsewhere”.
In a letter to all staff, Cook outlines the lack of discipline at all levels and the extent of the turnaround needed.
DM Private Equity bought Unwins for £32m in March, immediately halting the development of its upmarket Phillips Newman retail format. And in a dig at the previous management, Cook added: “In acquiring the business we also had an understanding of the nature of the business as it was represented to us, which was sadly not true.”
More than £30m has been invested since acquisition, to clear debts and pay creditors.
Among the new procedures will be regular visits to all stores by management on any day between 4pm and 10pm.
As reported previously in The Grocer, Unwins has suffered a series of supply problems in recent months.