A founder of the firm, Stewart McLeish, will take over the shop on Castle Street in the city and a separate outlet on Brook Street in partnership with Arbroath fish merchant Gordon Spink (see story below).

But administrators Tenon Recovery could find no buyers for the firm’s former central kitchen, also based in the city, or for the empty Glenrothes shop.

The proposed deal still has to go through the due diligence process, and it’s not yet clear how many jobs the new Dundee shops would create.

Nevertheless, joint administrator Iain Fraser said he was pleased to have found a buyer for seven of the 10 outlets.

“We are delighted to have secured the future of seven stores and wish the preferred bidders every success when they take ownership of the sites,” he said.

“Given the market conditions, this is a great outcome for all concerned with McLeish Brothers.”

Peckhams will also acquire shops at Schoolhill and Union Street in Aberdeen as part of the deal.

A third independent will take over the McLeish outlet in Inverurie.

The announcement of preferred bidders comes just three weeks after the company went into administration, during which time the administrators received 60 inquiries and 12 offers.

Peckhams was founded in Glasgow in 1982 and has quickly become one of Scotland’s best-known independent food and drink stores.

The chain has branches in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh, but the acquisition of the former McLeish’s units would be their first foray into the north-east of Scotland. Many Peckhams branches remain open until midnight, with some also holding late licenses.