The directors of the 45-year-old business, based at Maggots Nook Farm, Rainford, St Helens, called in turn-around and recovery specialists, Rushtons Insolvency, following two years of very difficult trading.
The business consisted of both farming and haulage divisions. The 1,800-acre farming division grew fresh vegetables and salad produce across Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire for customers including Aldi, Booths, Hello Fresh and a number of food service providers across the UK. The haulage division had a fleet of 25 trucks and 40 temperature-controlled trailers that transported produce for a variety of food industry customers.
Job losses
The company sold its haulage division Preston-based Len Wright Salads, in May 2022 that safeguarded 42 haulage and support jobs but the directors were unable to secure a sustainable future for the farming side of the business.
The farming division of the business ceased to trade on 29th April, 2020, with the loss of 35 jobs in the farm, packhouse and administrative roles, leaving the directors with no option but to place the company into administration.
Nicola Baker of Saltaire-based Rushtons was appointed by the directors as the administrator on 14th June 2022.
Economic climate
“The last few years have seen an unprecedented squeeze on many farms and aspects of food producing businesses, and, sadly, despite the strongly performing specialist haulage business, it was simply not possible for the company to keep trading as it was in the current economic climate,” said Baker.
Len Wright Salads, which backed the new company that now operates the haulage business, has appointed former haulage director Rob Wilson to continue to run the haulage business under their ownership.
Nicola Baker has appointed Eddisons Commercial to auction the remaining assets of the business, including a significant volume of farm machinery and food processing equipment which will be sold by online auction in the coming weeks.