Reports suggest Palmer & Harvey is heading towards administration

(Press Association) Around 4,000 jobs could be put at risk as Palmer & Harvey edges towards administration following failed attempts to secure a lifeline for the troubled wholesaler, according to reports.

Professional services firm PwC is said to be poised to tackle the administration process, according to Sky News, despite P&H revealing in October that it had entered exclusive takeover talks with the Carlyle Group.

The US private equity fund was looking to snap up a controlling stake in P&H in exchange for a significant capital investment, but attempts to secure a tie-up are said to be fading.

Cigarettes and alcohol

P&H, the UK’s biggest supplier of cigarettes, employs 4,000 people and provides alcohol, groceries and frozen food to 90,000 retail accounts, including Tesco.

P&H is the UK's biggest biggest supplier of cigarettes to retailers: Max Pixel

The privately-owned group has been working with stakeholders Imperial Brands and Japan Tobacco International as it searches for relief from thin profit margins and a substantial debt burden.

Industry consolidation

The move comes amid a period of consolidation within the grocery sector, with Tesco agreeing a £3.7bn deal with food wholesaler Booker, while Nisa Retail has sealed a takeover from the Co-op.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) gave the Tesco-Booker deal the provisional green light earlier this month, saying the move would not lead to higher prices or hit service for shoppers.

The CMA said its in-depth investigation into the tie-up found it did not raise competition concerns despite fears raised by a raft of rival wholesalers.