The famous Peckham’s brand looks to have gone after its new owners pulled the plug on the business.

A spokesman confirmed to Glasgow West End Today that the delicatessen had ceased trading.

The company has two stores in the West End – at Hyndland Road and on Byres Road.

Local people had been speculating why the shops had remained closed in recent days.

The move to close the business comes just 14 months after Andrew Duncan and his business partner Lee Fish took over the ailing retailer.

A brief statement said the company had been left with no choice but to close after a third party withdrew potential funding.

Staff have been let go and it is understood a new buyer is not being sought.

A spokesman for Peckham’s said: “We made a massive effort to revive the business, which was in liquidation when we took over last summer.

“We invested a huge amount of money in Peckham’s, introduced new product lines and supported more local producers in an effort to turn it round.

“We had also hoped to attract further investment shortly, which would have allowed us to grow, however the interested party pulled out of the deal last week and we were left with no choice but to close down.”

“We had also hoped to attract further investment shortly, which would have allowed us to grow, however the interested party pulled out of the deal last week and we were left with no choice but to close down” Peckham’s spokesman

Andrew is the founder and managing director of mobile and web technology business SwarmOnline.

Lee is a veteran of the food and drink sector.

‘Smart technology’

Taking over the business last June, Andrew said they hoped to bring in smart technology to improve the customer experience.

Back then, Andrew said: “SwarmOnline will develop the tech side of the business producing apps that will make it much more efficient, allowing us to make better informed decisions about stock and sales and making the customer experience unlike any other deli or café.

“This sort of technology is normally only used by the major supermarkets and corporates – we aim to be the most high tech deli in the country.”

But it seems the investment needed to compete with supermarkets and online retailers proved too much.

The chain was employing 18 staff when it was taken out of liquidation.

* This article has been updated since first publication with new detail.