Two of Kent’s leading fresh produce businesses have gone into administration this week.

It has been confirmed that AV Produce Ltd and Albert Vinson Ltd entered administration on Tuesday, just four days into the New Year.

Both companies operate from the same base at Swanley, Kent.

An administrator had not been appointed as FPJ went to press but it is understood one is soon to be engaged.

AV Produce is a grower, packer and importer of vegetables, salads and fruit supplying produce to UK supermarkets, wholesale traders and catering outlets.

In its latest accounts filed at Companies House, covering the year to 31 January 2010, AV Produce reported a fall in turnover from £14 million the previous year to £10.9m.

Pre-tax profits for the period fell from £75,545 in 2009 to a loss of £120,449 the following year.

Albert Vinson made a pre-tax loss of £70,789 on a turnover of £947,163 in the same period. In 2009 its turnover was £859,082 with a pre-tax loss of £69,163 recorded.

There are fears in the industry that the recent inclement weather, on top of a difficult economic environment, will lead to a spate of failures with companies in the brassica trade struggling in particular.

In its 2010 review, Plimsoll highlighted 257 companies in financial difficulty, with 439 rated as “very strong”.

Topics