STAFF who had worked for a combined 45 years in a Wellington town centre greengrocers shop only learned by email that they had lost their jobs this week.
Mary Jenkins Farm Shop caused shock in the town when it failed to reopen on Tuesday morning with no notice of explanation for customers.
And shop workers Caroline Winter and Sheila Hart were only told the news in a late email from business owner Paul Shipp.
Caroline had worked there for 35 years and Sheila joined the business 10 years ago.
They said they had inquired about their outstanding wages but did not receive any reply.
Even the building’s landlord Jeff Jenkins was caught unawares as he first received a text message, and then an email notification.
Mr Jenkins said: “He has just up and gone. I do not think the staff were aware of it earlier this week. Stock has been left in the shop and some removed.”
The closure came two weeks after supermarket firm Lidl opened a store on the edge of Wellington and exactly 12 months since Mr Shipp warned in the pages of the Wellington Weekly that the business would not survive unless local residents used it.
Caroline and Sheila returned to the shop on Wednesday to start a flash sale of remaining fresh produce to clear as much stock as possible and avoid it going to waste.
The sale, which was for cash only with prices to be agreed at the counter, ended on Thursday.
Mr Jenkins said he had also been in touch with charities to reduce the amount of goods which might have to be wasted.
He said: “We do not want produce to go to waste. I certainly will not be reopening the shop. I am too old.”
Caroline told the Wellington Weekly: “We have had a huge amount of supportive messages from customers and friends and we would both like to thank everybody for their kindness in what is a difficult time for us.”
The Wellington Weekly contacted Mr Shipp this week, who said: “I assure you that the staff wages will be paid appropriately.”
Mr Shipp said people should refer back to last year’s Wellington Weekly front page report where he spoke about the trading difficulties in the town.
The High Street greengrocers was taken over five years ago by Mr Shipp and his wife Kim, who said they had ploughed £100,000 into the business.
Last year, Mr Shipp, who lives in Norton Fitzwarren, said his sales had taken a 20 per cent hit following the previous year’s closure of the Post Office in the former One Stop store in High Street, after which the nearby Shaul’s Bakery also closed.
Mr Shipp warned of the demise of the High Street if people did not support their local shops and said at the time: “I felt the shop was in an ideal position, but trade lately has been very difficult.
“Hopefully, it will pick up. We have tried different things but even this has not worked.”
“I am seriously thinking of selling if my profit margins do not improve. I am making only half the money I was during the pandemic.”