Smart Choice Kitchens Limited, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited and Connect Kitchens Limited - Ordered to be wound up

Smart Choice Kitchens Limited, Empire Kitchens and Bathrooms Limited and Connect Kitchens Limited, a group of Manchester-based kitchen design and fitting companies, were ordered to be wound up on 4 February after investigations by the Insolvency Service revealed a pattern of phoenixism.

Specifically, the companies took upfront payments from more than 20 customers for products they did not provide and had no intention of providing.

Combined, the customers had paid deposits of more than £50,000 to the companies. They were then falsely informed that the companies had gone into liquidation, or “went bankrupt”. The companies’ director failed to co-operate with the Insolvency Service’s investigations.

The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator.