Polehouse Nurseries, the strawberry growing business owned by Peter Wensak, has gone into voluntary administration, owing nearly £6 million.
One of the best-known soft-fruit growers in the country, Wensak has blamed funding difficulties for the decision to call in Taunton-based administrator Milsted Langdon, but insists the company remains a viable business and is looking for investment partners.
The firm, which operates from two sites, in Norfolk and Essex, is believed to owe £5.9m, although Milsted Langdon stated that until all creditors have been contacted, the true extent of the debt is still unclear. “The directors have attributed the failure of the company to a number of poor trading years and being unable to obtain the requisite finance the company needed to continue trading,” said a statement from the administrators.
Wensak - long recognised as one of the soft-fruit industry’s pioneers - has been given a licence to continue trading, as Milsted Langdon searches for a buyer to take on the business as a going concern. Wenask and wife Julie will trade as Phoenix Berry Farms.
The company caused a stir last year when it left its long relationship with marketing desk The Summerfruit Company to move to KG Fruit. Its financial situation had been the subject of rumour for some time.
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