Former SOS Wholesale MD Vipin Patara has defended her decision to step down from the business as it entered into administration, claiming her position became ”untenable”.
The discount delivered wholesaler, which supplied consumer goods to convenience, discount, independent, major multiple and garden centre retailers in the UK and Ireland, ceased trading last week, with most of its employees having been made redundant. It is understood the business could not meet its financial obligations.
However, its sister company, Sheffield-based The Soft Drinks Company (TSDC) has appointed Patara as its new MD, having previously served as director of the company since 2023. Every member of the SOS Wholesale sales and telesales teams have also joined the business.
“What matters most to me is making sure our valued customers continue to receive improved levels of service and care without disruption,” said Patara.
”The stability, capital strength, and platform we have at TSDC mean we can not only maintain continuity but also grow with our customers and suppliers in the years ahead.”
London-based investment firm RDCP Group acquired SOS Wholesale in December 2021 for an undisclosed sum. It later acquired TSDC in September 2023.
In a LinkedIn post describing his account of the decline of the company, retired founder and former MD of SOS Wholesale, Mark Beckett said: “It was not an easy decision to sell SOS. We did so with one proviso: that the new owners must share the same family values we had always lived by. Sadly, reality proved otherwise.”
He added: ”Perhaps the most frustrating part is the excuses. We hear claims about ’competitive market conditions’ or ’the need for upfront payments’. The reality? They grew the business in the first 12 months, but massive loan repayments and lack of investment throttled it, starved it, and strangled cash flow.”
Patara has since defended her decision to step down as SOS Wholesale MD. “Ultimately my position became untenable when it became clear that the options proposed by the shareholders were not taken into consideration by the lender. It is not in my character to engage in speculation or comment on negativity that surrounds this by those who don’t have insight into the truth and reasons for the closure of SOS.”
She added: ”My focus now is on The Soft Drinks Company. With the backing of a strong team and the continuous trust from customers and suppliers I am committed to building on a solid foundation and driving future growth.
“I remain grateful for the support I have received during the last 10 days from so many respected people in the industry and I look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationships in the years ahead.”
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