S&A Produce has moved to quash trade rumours that it is in financial difficulty and in danger of collapse, following the news that owner John Davies has stepped down from running the firm.

Speculation has been rife that the major soft-fruit supplier to some of the UK’s largest multiples is in danger of a collapse on the scale of vegetable supplier Bomfords, which failed two years ago.

A spokeswoman for S&A stressed that its board of directors is still firmly in control of the business. “For the past two-and-a-half years, Jon Sopher has been chairman of the board, and his role has now been extended to chief executive,” she said.

“The changes to the management structure have been brought about due to personal differences between John Davies and Lloyds Bank [as reported in last week’s FPJ]. There is nothing unusual about the current structure, particularly given the fact that Jon Sopher has been a key member of the board for a significant period.”

S&A also denied that Lloyds is playing any role in running the business and local media reports that its representatives were visiting every week are “without foundation”.

The spokeswoman told freshinfo: “The financial position of the business is more robust than it has been for some while and is now benefiting from the start of the UK growing season. We have our own crop production department, which has been significantly increased in personnel terms.”

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