Administrators for the distillery behind the Two Birds brand have said it is being wound-up.
FRP Advisory said the Market Harborough business had been hit by a decline in sales coupled with key customer contracts coming to an end which meant it was no longer able to meet its financial obligations.
FRP was brought in as administrators at Two Birds manufacturer Union Distillers last week, and were then appointed to handle the affairs of parent company The British Honey Company Plc on Tuesday, April 25.
The Union Distillery began making spirits a decade ago using a still put together by the owner at his home, before moving into a dedicated premises in the town’s Welland business Park. It went on to make London Dry, Old Tom and Cocktail Gins, a 47% Sipping Gin, an English Vodka, absinthe and various flavoured vodkas.
It was acquired by Oxfordshire-based British Honey in 2021, and its accounts for that year showed a £10 million turnover and a 71-strong workforce.
After failing to find a buyer, the administrators said they were winding down operations with an anticipated end date of mid-May, and with all jobs going.
Joint administrator Simon Stibbons, from FRP, said: "Union Distillers had been trading since 2012 and introduced a new simplified business model to drive sales through more bespoke and no-alcohol brands.
“However, changes to some of its key client contracts resulted in a decrease in sales and, without sufficient working capital, Union could no longer trade.
"We'd encourage any interested parties to come forward and speak to us. We will continue to work with the impacted staff to make sure they access the appropriate support through the Redundancy Payments Service."
