Beleagured direct horticultural business Bakker has been handed two months in which to meet its commitments by the Court of The Hague following heavy losses in both 2016 and 2017. The business which trades in France, Germany and the UK, in addition to The Netherlands, is no longer advertising in the UK or any other of its markets. It is understood that talks with a potential investor had broken down and this led to the company applying for more time to save the business. Sales talks have now been been able to commence with four interested parties. Interim director Herman Hovestad has estimated that over 10 million Euros would be needed for Bakker to recommence trading in its most recent form. The likelihood is, however, that the business and its assets will be sold off to the highest bidder. In the meantime, all websites and customer service lines have been suspended.
Martin Harvey who was a former MD of Bakker Hillegom for the UK, expressed his sadness at the demise of the business which he attributed to its switching from the use of print catalogues, much loved by gardeners, to a primarily online offering which failed to deliver.
Rumours that the UK multi-brand business BVG which owns Thompson & Morgan had made an offer for the Bakker UK customer database was denied by its managing director Iain Burgess. Direct Commerce has been unable to contact current UK MD Adrian Nind or other team members at the UK Bakker offices for any comment.
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