Over 80 jobs lost as cheese firm fails
ACHEESE maker in Gwynedd has gone into administration with more than 80 staff made redundant.
GRH Food Company owner Andrew Hockridge called in workers on Monday morning to tell them they were losing their jobs as the company stopped trading.
It came just two years after the firm received a £1.7m grant from Welsh Government in 2017 to relocate from Y Ffor, near Pwllheli, to a new £6.5m headquarters in Minffordd, between Penrhyndeudraeth and Porthmadog.
On Monday afternoon Paul Dumbell and David Costley-Wood at KPMG were appointed as joint administrators.
The firm was established in 1989 and employed 86 staff from its base at Snowdonia Business Park.
A KPMG spokesman said: “The Joint Administrators were appointed to GRH after the company suffered cash flow issues and was unable to meet its financial obligations as they fell due.
“The majority of staff were made redundant
shortly before the appointment.
“Four members of staff have been retained in the short term to support the administration process.”
Paul Dumbell, joint administrator, said: “GRH was an ambitious business that had grown in recent years, but the squeeze of increased costs and liabilities put too much pressure on its finances.
“Despite efforts to market the business for sale, a buyer could not be found, which led to the administration.
“Although the facility will not trade during the administration period, we continue to explore all options for this multi-million-pound production facility.”
A worker, who asked not to be named, said: “Everyone is in shock here, it is very emotional.
“We were called in by the owner Andrew Hockridge who told us the news, he said we would get our last week’s pay but that was it.
“People are just shocked and angry.”
Liz Saville Roberts MP said: “Local Councillor Gareth Thomas and I have just had a meeting with the family of GRH Foods Ltd in Minffordd.
“We are extremely sad to learn that this wellestablished, local company has gone into receivership, putting around 90 local jobs at risk.
“I am particularly concerned that this state of the art facility with the latest in cheese production technology is now at risk, having received £1.7 million of public funding from the Welsh Government.
“Our prime focus must be on the local employees affected by this terrible news, who will be understandably worried for their future.
Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “This will be devastating news for the GRH food employees and their families and our focus is now on exploring all avenues as we look to secure jobs and support the workforce into alternative local employment where possible.
“We will also be meeting urgently with the administrators to see what more Welsh Government can do for the workforce and wider supply chain.”