What happened this week?
If you’ve been surprised by the first prolonged burst of sunshine we’ve enjoyed in the UK this year and taken advantage of it then you might not have caught up with all the important business and insolvency news stories from the past seven days.
So whether you’re interested in what’s happened with the latest monthly corporate insolvency figures, how Eurovision boosts a tourist industry that badly needed one, how commercial landlords are beginning to flex their muscles on rent arrears or how a members voluntary liquidation (MVL) can give directors a shot at freedom – you can find them all here.
Tillery Valley Foods
Tillery Valley Foods in Abertillery, Wales is going into administration with the future of 250 positions uncertain.
The company has been long standing suppliers of meals to the NHS for several decades.
Directors said that the business had experienced significant inflation across its cost base over the past 12 months, driven principally by increases in food and energy prices. This in turn has had a detrimental impact on their cash flow.
Directors had been working to arrange a sale as an ongoing concern but were unable to reach an agreement with any prospective buyer.
A statement for the business said: “This is a tremendously sad day for the company and their employees, a number of whom have worked for the business for three decades.
The business is thought to be the largest private sector employer in the town of Abertillery.
Local MS Alun Davies said: “We have been working hard for many months to save the jobs and help rescue the company. The Welsh Government together with the local council and the Development Bank of Wales have all been working together to ensure a future for the business.
Welsh Marinas
In another blow to Welsh business, the holding company behind a network of marinas in Wales has gone into administration this week.
The Cardiff-based Marine & Property Group (MPG) is the holding group for several marinas including Cardiff, Burry Port, Aberystwyth and Port Dinorwic. All continue to operate normally at time of writing.
A statement from the company says: “The administration has been put in place at the holding group level to assist in the on-going refinancing of the group. There is no change to any berthing contracts or related services.”
Directors reiterate that the administration is a protective measure to support delayed capital financing of the holding company and that they hope to raise funds through a corporate bond in order to exit the insolvency process.
Lechlade Music Festival
A three day music festival in the Cotswolds due to be headlined by Tony Hadley was cancelled due to bad weather forcing the company to go into liquidation.
Due to the weather the organisers were forced to cancel the event with heavy losses.
A statement for the business said: “We regretfully must announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, a decision has been made to cancel this year’s Lechlade Festival. We had been advised that the festival site was too wet and the ground too soft to allow for a safe event.
“We are utterly devastated. The team was poised to deliver another fabulous festival and we are beyond words at having to let down our festival goers, performers, traders, suppliers and supporters.
“We have explored all options, and if there was any other way, we would have found a solution. With further heavy rain forecast, there is already a great deal of standing water in many places and the ground beneath is very soft, with high groundwater levels. The site would not dry and recover in time to accommodate the festival infrastructure and vehicles.
“Lechlade Festival Limited cannot sustain the losses incurred by cancellation. We have therefore, and with a very heavy heart, made the difficult decision to commence proceedings to place the company into liquidation.”
Robinson Manufacturing
Robinson Manufacturing Limited, a Northamptonshire timber frame and roof truss specialist has gone into administration.
Their additional operations in Wolverhampton, Wellingborough and Essex will be wound down with 140 redundancies.
Team Precision
South Wales based Team Precision Pipe Assemblies Ltd was put into administration due to financial difficulties.
The company manufactures pipes and assemblies for air conditioning and HVAC units, primarily used in the automotive sector.
30 posts have been made redundant, with another 140 uncertain.
A statement from the business said: “the company has faced financial difficulties over recent years, primarily due to a fall in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges facing the wider automotive sector that it supplies to.
“The business continues to trade on a reduced capacity whilst we look for a buyer and we are currently liaising with a number of parties who are undertaking due diligence.”
Madestein
One of the UK’s top hydroponic salad growers is searching for a buyer after entering administration this month.
Madestein is based in Chichester and specialises in glasshouse grown lettuce and herbs utilising advanced hydroponic growing processes for the UK’s major food retailers, foodservice companies and wholesale markets.
They were also the sole supplier of curly leaf lettuce to a number of the UK’s largest supermarkets.
The businesses occupy a freehold site with 26,829 square metres of glasshouses, adjoining storage, packing and office accommodation, together with an array of plant and machinery.
Unfortunately an investment in new equipment combined with rising energy costs and labour challenges left the business unable to meet its financial obligations and they have entered administration as a result.
Administrators are continuing to trade to ensure continuity of supply while they consider all options including selling the business as a going concern.
A statement from the business said: “Madestein is a well established business with an excellent customer book and a deservedly strong reputation in the market.
“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the management team, it has not been able to navigate through the challenges facing the food production sector at this time. Our focus is now continuing to operate the business to fulfil customer orders while we seek to identify new owners for the property and business.”
Mamamade
DTC plant based baby food brand Mamamade has ceased trading after losing a battle with soaring costs and lower demand as families tightened their spending in the cost-of-living crisis.
The business faced a number of challenges fuelled by inflationary pressures and a decimation of the fundraising market which “severely affected” a planned raise which was due to close at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
A statement read: “Despite our significant efforts to raise vital funding, we reached the painful conclusion that it was in the best interest of all parties involved for us to enter the company into voluntary liquidation.
“We’re heartbroken not to be able to carry on building on our purpose.”
The business was founded in 2020 producing a range of 45 frozen plant-based meals for babies, manufacturing products themselves a a new, dedicated allergen-free factory producing more than one million meals with revenues of over £1.4 million.
Phoenix Worldwide Logistics
Warwickshire based haulier Phoenix Worldwide Logistics has entered administration this week.
First incorporated in 1990 with four operating centres in the West Midlands and 29 trucks and trailers and operated warehousing with 11,000 sq ft of storage space offering full warehousing and distribution packages.
Some people think the news is constantly negative but we think it’s a great reminder to directors about the possible pitfalls their business could undergo and how they can avoid them.
One way is to arrange a free consultation with one of our team of advisors to discuss the challenges their business faces.
They will provide a range of options that directors or business owners can consider implementing that could help them insulate and energise their business in the weeks and months ahead.
All they have to do is to get in touch – today!