More details have emerged about how a family business which had been trading for more than 45 years collapsed into administration earlier this month.
BusinessLive reported that Rainford-based T.Wilson & Sons (Farmers) Ltd had entered administration after the sale of its transport division was sold to Preston-based Len Wright Salads, a move that saved 42 jobs.
The company had been run by the Wilson family and was established in 1977.
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Now, more details about how the business collapsed have been revealed by administrators Rushtons Insolvency.
Nicola Baker has been appointed to oversee the administration process after the company had battled for two years for survival because of the impact of the pandemic.
The business comprised a farming and haulage division. The 1,800-acre farming division grew fresh vegetables and salad produce across Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire for customers including Aldi, Booths, Hello Fresh and a number of food service providers across the UK.
The haulage division had a fleet of 25 trucks and 40 temperature-controlled trailers that transported produce for a variety of food industry customers.
On April 29, the farming division of the business ceased to trade, with the loss of 35 jobs in the farm, packhouse and administrative roles, "leaving the directors with no option but to place the company into administration", Rushtons Insolvency said.
Nicola Baker said: "The last few years have seen an unprecedented squeeze on many farms and aspects of food producing businesses, and, sadly, despite the strongly performing specialist haulage business, it was simply not possible for the company to keep trading as it was in the current economic climate.
Len Wright Salads, which backed the new company that now operates the haulage business, has appointed former haulage director Rob Wilson to continue to run the haulage business under their ownership.
Nicola Baker added: "The efforts of the Wilson family and a key customer of the haulage business have saved a significant proportion of the jobs involved, and the new business continues to provide haulage services for customers following its sale.
"However, the directors had a responsibility to cease trading and protect the creditors of the unviable farming side of the business."
The administrator has appointed Eddisons Commercial to auction the remaining assets of the business, including a significant volume of farm machinery and food processing equipment which will be sold by online auction in the coming weeks.
