The news this week that AMS-WellPict European is to bring in the administrators appears to have come as no surprise to those in the know in the soft-fruit industry.

Our industry sources have blamed the situation on “poor leadership” and “weak management” - if you remember, similar accusations were levelled at MBMG when that went into administration in July. This suggests that the current spate of major fresh produce companies hitting difficulties cannot purely be blamed on the recession.

AMS-WellPict European is not a member of British Summer Fruits, according to the trade body’s website, and it seems evident that any company operating outside the industry’s other major players is possibly setting itself up for a nasty fall. Co-operation is crucial to building sales and driving momentum.

The demise of MBMG and now AMS-WellPict European’s slide into administration could easily be blamed on the financial climate, but to draw that conclusion from recent events would perhaps be disingenuous. The produce industry in fact seems to have weathered the recession pretty well and most firms have managed to keep their heads above water. But in a recession, inherent weaknesses are brutally exposed - there is nowhere to hide. All year people have been telling us that this climate will sort the men from the boys. It certainly seems to be doing just that.