Pet retailer falls into liquidation after cyber attack leaves firm with 'no future'

A PET retailer in West Lothian has fallen into liquidation after nearly three decades in business following a cyber-attack which left the firm with “no future”.

At its peak, Pet Planet, based in Livingston , operated profitably and had revenues of £12 million as it offered customers a variety of products ranging from premium food to litter and toys.

However, despite being in business since 1999, the firm collapsed on March 31, with administrators officially called in on Friday.

James Stephen and Kiri Holland of BDO were appointed as joint administrators to the business, as well as the parent company, M8 Group Limited.

The company described itself as a “trusted destination for everything pets need” over the past 27 years, but recently fell into trouble with sales declining and suffering a cyber-attack in 2025.

Recent documents filed to Companies House showed that despite the firm receiving a boost in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic, directors refused to pay the “large ransom” from cyber-criminals last year who stole customer data.

Filings showed that the company received £500,000 from its insurance company following the ransom, but the attack made “restoring revenue difficult”.

The documents noted: “At its peak the Group had revenues of £12m and had historically operated profitably. Trade was starting to decline following the initial boost from the Covid-19 pandemic which increased garden and pet sales.

“Unfortunately, in 2025 the Group suffered a cyber-attack. Under the insurance policy, specialists were engaged to try to rebuild and secure the data, but this was only partially successful. The directors declined to pay the large ransom demands. The insurance claim was limited to £500k, the majority of which was received in 2025.

“Customer data and history which was lost as a result of the attack made restoring revenue difficult which combined with the general overall decline in sales led the directors to conclude there was no future for the Group in its current format.”

In accounts for the year to September 29, 2024, the company’s fixed assets were valued at around £147,000 and current assets at approximately £2.5m, with total equity standing at slightly over £946,000.

It comes after The National reported that a bespoke furniture manufacturer fell into liquidation last week after a decline in sales made the company’s operations “unsustainable”.

The Kilmarnock-based Rakkaus Furniture produced bespoke “Scandinavian-inspired” made-to-order furniture for offices and other businesses across the country since it was founded in 2017.

However, Michelle Elliot and Calum Carmichael of specialist business advisory firm FRP have been appointed as joint liquidators after the business’s founder and director, Christopher Arkley, agreed to wind up the company voluntarily.

Rakkaus Furniture produced bespoke ‘Scandinavian-inspired’ furniture (Image: Getty Images)

Elliot, partner at FRP and joint liquidator of Rakkaus Furniture, told The National: “The business experienced a sustained reduction in new orders, which resulted in cashflow challenges that proved unsustainable.

“We are now focused on an orderly wind-down of the company’s affairs and maximising returns for creditors.”