Mutch Meats in New Close Lane in Witney was supposed to submit its accounts for the year up to June 30, 2024, by March 31, 2025.
However, almost a year since, the accounts have not been published by Companies House, with the past 12 months also seeing the business’ administration and closure.
It was previously reported that the slaughterhouse would be reopening after a rescue deal was agreed but as of March 11, 2026, it does not appear to have reopened.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire slaughterhouse sale needs ‘transparency’ says MP
Mutch Meats was placed into administration last summer after a creditor who was owed money filed a winding up petition against the company.
Paul Ellison and Christopher Errington, joint administrators of KRE Corporate Recovery who were appointed, subsequently revealed £15.3 million worth of debts in total.
This includes £12 million of debts racked up by the Morgan family who took over the family-run abattoir in 2019.
Mr Morgan was originally a customer of Mutch Meats before he became a director in 2019.
Charlie Maynard MP (Image: House of Commons)
He became more involved when he was owed “significant” debts under the ownership of the Mutch family, administrators said.
Throughout the years, Mr Morgan provided financial support for Mutch Meats to trade through difficult times including Covid, but he was not involved in the day-to-day operations.
Over five years, loans totalled £8 million by Mr Morgan.
The administrators said: “The company’s trading was impacted by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which resulted [in] decreased revenues and increased costs, detrimentally impacting profit margins and resulting in losses.”
At that point Mr Morgan became active in the day-to-day running of the business and a new managing director was appointed in a bid to improve its governance.
Mutch Meats on New Close Lane (Image: Google Maps)
In October 2024, a full review was carried out on the business’ finances and a restructuring plan was prepared which involved financing by Mr Morgan’s other company SMS Food Group.
However that then fell through when, on August 8 last year, a day after a creditor had been paid £50,000 under an agreed payment plan, they then filed a winding up petition against Much Meats.
“The company did not have sufficient funds to defend the winding up petition and supporting creditors, had no cash to enable continued trading and the secured lenders were not in a position to make any further finance available,” the administrators said.
READ MORE: Confusion over ‘currently closed’ Oxfordshire slaughterhouse
“It was therefore necessary to initiate a quick sale of the business to maximise the value in the assets of the company.”
In total, 101 creditors are listed as being owed money, some of which are based in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust is owed almost £3,000, Thame Farmers Auction Market is owed £61k and Universal Truck & Trailer in Witney is owed £3.2k.
Witney MP Charlie Maynard had previously called for “transparency” from the company over its sale.
Mutch Meats has been approached for comment about whether the business’ have been paid and the future of the abattoir.
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