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  • Report:  #1524600

Complaint Review: Fresh Local & Wild Ltd - Lincoln, Yeovil, Cardiff, Glasgow

Reported By:
Fresh Local and Wild Victim #3 - United Kingdom
Submitted:
Updated:

Fresh Local & Wild Ltd
Lincoln, Yeovil, Cardiff, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Web:
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Fresh Local and Wild Ltd opened late December 2021 promising a high street revival off the back of another 'department' store known as 15:17 which 'didn't work out' so they went their separate ways. Things started well; local goods, artisan makes and well known whole food brands were bought into the store; along with 'surplus' stock from the 15:17 Cardiff store that had closed. Staff worked hard to get an empty unit rennovated to make a psuedo food hall. Long hours were worked and a lot of manual labor was done. The building had its’ issues; the coffee machine wasn’t plumbed in correctly, electrics were done wrong etc. This we learned was all down to a builder they’d previously worked with, who also fitted the Worthing store (where the coffee bar fitting had apparently come from also). This builder wasn’t paid due to “being a cowboy” and not doing things as asked. The store also housed a coffee shop which had locally roasted coffee and locally baked cakes. This also happened in their 2 other stores.

January came a staff were told that pay may be delayed as the 'business grants' from the local councils hadn't gone through which seemed to happen and affect the Lincoln and Yeovil stores. Some suppliers also had outdated invoices that were still due and were starting to get worried whether they would ever get their pay. Environmental health visit the store to which the problems that haven't been dealt with are prevalent; no waste bins for the stores waste out back meaning the stock room was full of garbage, the sink is leaking in the coffee shop and a load of fire hazards (ie old clothing racks) are laying around the store. The staff were left mostly on their own with no high up senior member of staff avaible for weeks and so had to deal with these problems that were out of their control for weeks. The Yeovil and Lincoln stores had ONE delivery from wholelsale provider, Brakes, and never received one again due to accounts not being paid meaning staff had to trek to nearby stores like Tesco for milk and other cafe essentials; sometimes of which they paid out of their own pocket as no business account was 'available'. This same month pay dates are changed around again leaving staff in dismay and out of pocket. During this time both the Lincoln and Yeovil stores finally meet the company director, Ellena 'Ellie' Ward nee Batiste and her husband Edward 'Ted' Ward who have been AWOL since both stores opened leaving a disgruntled Ops manager picking up their mess. They bring yet more 'stock' from the disbanded Cardiff 15:17 store with news of pay being delayed yet again due to 'cash flow issues' this now starts to affect artists and makers who were selling within the stores; their unpaid invoices were now starting to wrack up. When the original pay day comes around certain staff are paid ie those with children and seniors leaving the others understandable peeved. Some staff quick thteatening to picket the Yeovil and Lincoln stores to expose Ellie for not paying staff or the suppliers; they are then paid to keep quiet.

February rolls around. Concessions and suppliers are threatening to pull out; some in arrears of £100s and some digging up dirt on the Wards shady past ventures; MegaMart, Darwen FC, ASCO, Elliecatessan, 15:17 and posting to social media and concession group chats to warn everyone. The owner claims she never received any emails regarding late invoices to which the staff claimed they Cc'd her in everyone, and continue to do so in support of those who are owed money. Pay issues, AGAIN. Half now, half another date staff in Yeovil and Lincoln are told. The Glasgow store is due to be opening but how can they pay them when they can't pay their current outgoings? The owner now blames it on the new builders fixing the issues with the store that have to be paid first. During all this staff notice that the Food and Beverages manager comes weekly to each store to clear the safes. With no business bank account to pay this into where was it going?

March, Companies house shows all, the owners are now behind with filing their accounts. The staff are now warning concessions and suppliers and telling them to pull out as they fear that they will not receive any of the money theyre owed or future payments. The store lays barren, out of date food on shelves, amazon bought produce that apppears weekly from the owners personal amazon account. The Yeovil staff have been told that they have to take any money owed on wages directly out of the safe but their store is barely scraping by, Glasgow was open less than a month before closing its doors with suppliers having their belongings locked inside the store unable to free their stock. Multiple staff quit the Lincoln and Yeovil stores out of fear they'll be working for effectively free.

Both stores are told to hire new staff; current staff knowing that they may never get paid and fearful they'll never receive money if they warn them. All through March this continues; suppiliers leaving, artists left unpaid and staff too. Come April the remaining staff refuse to open the store forcing managers and the owner to finally show themselves and face their mess. Ellena Ward is not present but instead sends her husband who in private meetings blackmails concessions and staff members; "if you cause nonsense, the press, police etc, you'll never see your money". He gaslights everyone making out that he came all that way to be 'respectful' and to 'do the right thing'. Certain vendors rely on him to get their stock out; which he tried to get out of by arriving at the store in the early hours of the morning, however a passerby managed to warn the vendors so they could get their stuff. Some were not so lucky. By April Yeovil and Lincoln are closed.

The kick in the teeth came late May when the now defunct website claimed Glasgow, Lincoln and Yeovil would be reopening amongst new country wide stores like Chester and Telford. 10th June 2022 "new happy staff, new play areas, better stock" etc etc. This date was never fulfilled.

Since all this many members of staff and the suppliers/concessions involved have attempted to warn others of the Wards tendecies and are STILL waiting payment from them. Many going through courts and tribunals to get their voices heard. Not to mention all the dodgy goings on within their stores; and possible tax avoidance, grant grabbing and possible money laundering.

This is a warning. These people need to be exposed. They have used alias in the past and WILL do it again. They're con artists and scammers and we will not rest until we get justice. For many of us it's no longer about the money we are owed but the principal. How and WHY do these people keep getting away with this? They continue to live a lavish lifestyle whilst the rest of us are still trying to pay pff debts caused by these scammers.

NAME. AND. SHAME.

Spread the word and lets hope these crooks get their just desserts/.

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