One of the areas bigger employers – Turners Fine Foods – is set to go into administration this Friday [July 29] putting 324 jobs at risk.
The Goudhurst site at Spelmonden Farm is one of three owned by the luxury food wholesaler, with the others in Dorset and Lancashire.
In a statement reportedly circulated to customers the Chairman, Sean Cooper, said: “You may recall I wrote to you on June 27 introducing myself and outlining the recent events at Turners and explaining what we were trying to do to fix the business.
“It is with deep regret that I now write to you to inform you that we have been unable to complete this task and find ourselves in a position where we will be appointing administrators on Friday July 29.”
In April, Agathos Management invested in the company and appointed Mr Cooper to the post of Chairman.
It’s understood that ‘significant sums’ of money were invested in Turners, although the new owners were unable to turn the operation around.
Mr Cooper added: “I am very sorry that we have been unable to rescue Turners and I apologise in advance for any disruption you [the client] will experience when transferring your custom to new suppliers.”
Current stock levels will enable Turners to fulfil ’90 per cent of all orders’.
If administrators are unable to find a buyer for the company then the 324 local staff will lose their jobs.
Other national food wholesalers have taken to social media expressing sadness at the demise of Turners and offering to help out with supplying products if required.
Turners is a wholesale supplier of general and specialist foods to the restaurant, hospitality and retail sectors.
