Samuel Cooke assets sold to Crown Oil by administrators

BURY-based Crown Group has bought the key assets of Samuel Cooke, the family-owned independent distributor of fuels and lubricants that went into administration last week.

Samuel Cooke & Co and sister company Company Fuel Cards Limited entered administration last week, with the loss of 86 jobs.

The two businesses employed 98 people in total at their base in Burnley, but 86 staff were made redundant as a result of the administration.
Twelve staff were retained to assist administrators Paul Flint and Brian Green from KPMG’s Restructuring practice.

Crown Oil said the acquisition meant Samuel Cooke customers can be reassured about supplies. 

Matt Greensmith, managing director of Crown Group, said: “We will continue to trade under the Samuel Cooke name and we can assure existing customers a flawless continuity of service.

“The Crown and Cooke businesses have many similarities, both being long established, independent and family owned firms that have built sound reputations based on high and consistent levels of service.”

A handful of Cooke’s former employees have already found employment with Crown Oil, which said it is hopeful that there will be more opportunities as the business is consolidated into the Crown Group. Additional staff will be based at Crown’s main depot and administrative headquarters, The Oil Centre adjoining the M66 in Bury.

Mark Andrews, Crown Oil general manager, added: “Crown has grown significantly in recent years and this is a perfect opportunity for us to reinforce our position as the region’s largest independent fuel and lubricants supplier.”