New Spitalfields Market wholesaler Peter Cornwell & Son has gone into administration leaving debts totalling over £700,000.
The largest creditor is listed as Poupart Limited with a debt of £253,239, while others are primarily between £10,000 and £38,000 and include well-known produce names such as Hars & Hagebauer, JN Fox & Son, Del Monte UK and Total Worldfresh, as well as smaller wholesale firms.
Thomas D’Arcy and Susan Maund of administrators White Maund, based in Brighton, have been appointed joint liquidators, according to documents filed on Companies House.
All creditors must prove their debts on or before 13 January 2017, by sending names and addresses along with descriptions and full details of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of any solicitors, to White Maund, 44-46 Old Steine, Brighton BN1 1NH.
Chris Hutchinson, of fellow Spitalfields firm Arthur Hutchinson, said people were “surprised” at the news, as Peter Cornwell had been around for years and was not known as a bad debtor.
“They were desperately trying to buy neighbouring premises on the market that had belonged to Vitacress, but that didn’t go through,” he said. “We were surprised that they went under. Staff have got new jobs, and the premises has now been sold to next-door firm Tydene.”
