Vale of Mowbray site and machinery sold

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Vale of Mowbray site and factory sold. Credit: Getty/GAnnison

The former site and machinery used by Yorkshire-based pie maker Vale of Mowbray has been sold out of administration.

NewCold, a Dutch-based leading international company that specialises in advanced automated warehousing and cold chain logistics has purchased the freehold site.

While Compleat Foods, makers of Classic Pork Pies and Melton Mowbray Pies, have bought the machinery.

The financial details of the sales were not revealed.

Financial challenges

Vale of Mowbray, the Leeming Bar-based pork pie produce,  which had been trading since 1928, entered into administration in September 2022, making 171 roles redundant immediately. 

The company revealed that it experienced significant financial challenges due to rising raw material costs, increasing energy costs and difficulties with recruitment.

Despite attempts to attract new investment, the business was no longer able to meet its financial obligations and ceased to trade.

Administration

The administration came just four months after the pork pie maker invested £4M in a new NPD project, which saw new machinery, 30 new jobs and the launch of a new product portfolio. 

Martyn Pullin, Mark Hodgett and David Shambrook, of specialist business advisory firm FRP, were appointed as Joint Administrators. 

Martyn Pullin, Partner at FRP and Joint Administrator of Vale of Mowbray Limited, said: “Despite trading for almost 100 years, Vale of Mowbray faced significant challenges and was no longer able to operate or secure the investment needed to trade. While it’s never easy saying goodbye to an established brand, we’re pleased to have found buyers for both the site and machinery and wish them all the best in the future.”