The manufacturer and its sandwiches were under investigation for its possible involvement in an outbreak of listeria in hospitals run by the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which resulted in five deaths.
The FSA confirmed last week (26 June 2019) that the company was not the source of the outbreak and that it could resume production. However, the impact of production being continuously suspended since 5 June was too great for the business to remain viable.
‘Too late’
Owner and founder Martyn Corfield said: “We have been co-operating very closely with the investigating authorities, and while Wednesday’s confirmation that the Good Food Chain was not the source of the outbreak was welcome, it ultimately came too late in the day for us to get the business back on to a sustainable footing.
“I feel desperately sorry for our brilliant and hardworking staff who, through no fault of their own, now find themselves out of work. I would like to thank them for everything they have done for the Good Food Chain, and particularly for their loyalty and patience over the last few weeks.”
Staff let go
The Good Food Chain employed 125 people, with 40 agency staff let go at the start of last month when production was suspended. Insolvency specialist Currie Young is handling the firm’s liquidation.
The FSA’s investigation is now focused on identifying the source of the listeria infections and is examining the supply chain of North Country Cooked Meats – the supplier of the meats used by The Good Food Chain – looking at historical detections of listeria, including those within permitted legal limits.
Meanwhile, last week, Welsh cheese producer GRH Food Company made 82 members of staff redundant after falling into administration.
