Bucks haulier that helped save iconic Jacks Hill Truckstop goes bust

Darren Edwards, insolvency practitioner at Liquidation Centre, which is part of Exigen Group, was appointed liquidator on 3 September 2026, according to an insolvency notice published in The London Gazette on 10 September.

He told MT that the “substantial capital investment” that SpareRyb Logistics put into restoring the truckstop, along with rising fuel and operating costs had played key roles in pushing the company into insolvency.

SpareRyb Logistics, which was launched in May 2022, specialised in general haulage and was an Amazon Freight Partner. It held an operating licence for 18 trucks and 18 trailers and employed around 30 staff.

It also owned a share in the historic Jacks Hill Café and Truckstop, located on the A5 near Towcester, although a spokeswoman for the truckstop told MT this week that SpareRyb Logistics is no longer a shareholder in the business.

In 2025 Spare Ryb Logistics, in partnership with Colin Cowley-Hurlock, took on and restored the iconic truckstop, which had been forced to close down as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown, after trading since 1955. The Jacks Hill Café and Truckstop business was reopened in October 2025. 

However, public records show that in the same year SpareRyb Logistics was struggling with soaring liabilities and had been called to a public inquiry.

According to SpareRyb Logistics’ most recent annual results for the year to 31 May 2025, the company’s current liabilities rocketed 263% to £978,276, up from £269,384 a year earlier, while creditors falling due after more than one year had increased from £149,455 to £580,323.

The company’s tangible fixed assets also increased significantly during the year, from £176,394 to £804,832. 

Overall, liabilities increased to around £1.56m, against total assets of £875,027.

In February 2025 the company’s finances also came under the spotlight in a public inquiry called by the Eastern Traffic Commissioner, following concerns over its its operator-licence compliance.

The Traffic Commissioner curtailed SpareRyb’s licence to 16 vehicles for 14 days, with effect from 16 March 2025.

The commissioner also issued a formal warning in respect of the company’s repute, stating that it was “tarnished but not lost”.

As part of the decision, SpareRyb Logistics undertook to provide financial evidence to demonstrate that it continued to meet the required level of available finance. 

It also agreed to commission an independent audit of its transport safety and compliance systems, with the resulting report due to the Traffic Commissioner by 26 August 2025. The operator also pledged to train all drivers in walk-around checks and defect reporting by the end of March 2025.

According to Companies House there are currently five charges against SpareRyb Logistics. Four remain outstanding and one, previously held by Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, was satisfied in April 2024. Another outstanding charge, created in May 2024, is in favour of Ecapital Commercial Finance.

Liquidator Darren Edwards told MT: “SpareRyb Logistics Limited experienced significant cash flow pressure following its expansion into a café and truck stop, which required substantial capital investment.

“This came at a time when the company was also facing high haulage operating and fuel costs, and it had become increasingly reliant on short term borrowing.

“A refinancing facility which was intended to provide the business with additional liquidity did not complete, which placed further strain on its immediate cash position, and the director concluded that the company was unable to continue trading.”

The liquidator will now realise the company’s assets for the benefit of creditors. Any parties interested in acquiring the company’s assets are invited to contact Darren Edwards at the Liquidation Centre using the email: darren.edwards@exigengroup.co.uk.