Bitter battle for historic cider maker revived in labour of love
‘Heritage Cider asset-stripped my company before forcing it into liquidation’
WHEN publican Jonathan Dunne discovered the historic Taunton Cider trademark had lapsed, he snapped it up at a knock-down fee of just £145 and set about rekindling the brand’s heyday.
Mr Dunne recruited master cidermaker Bob Chaplin, who worked for the original Taunton Cider company, and within a couple of years its products were again winning awards.
But the firm is now involved in a bitter battle over its future, following a disputed takeover bid which could see its fate decided in a courtroom.
Taunton Cider, founded by a farmers’ co-operative in 1805, was one of the world’s leading alcohol makers at the height of its fame in the 1970s and 80s.
It faded into obscurity after being swallowed up by the huge Irish-based C&C Group, formerly Cantrell and Cochrane, for £256million in 1995.
After buying the trademark in 2015, Mr Dunne began his labour of love, which included signing an agreement to buy the historic Stewley orchard, 34 acres of trees which produced 30 varieties of apple.
In 2021, he sought further investment in the company to provide support during the pandemic, and brought on board financier Andrew Turczyniak, a family friend of more than 20 years.
But there are now claims that Mr Turczyniak and Mr Dunne’s long-time business associates were plotting to secure Taunton Cider for themselves.
In May this year, Mr Turczyniak, according to documents at Companies House, put the firm into compulsory voluntary liquidation, claiming he personally was owed more than £400,000.
He also became the main shareholder in the holding company Heritage Cider shortly after it purchased some of the Taunton Cider assets at a knock down £40,000, according to other filings.
Further debts of £138,864 in tax and £54,176 in VAT are reportedly owed to HMRC, though Mr Dunne claims these were the subject of an agreed five-year repayment plan.
It is claimed that the new board of Heritage attempted to pass itself off as the successful Taunton Cider Company Ltd and tried to take over its domain names and social media, both still owned by Mr Dunne.
Emails were also sent out to old clients via the customer database, which they now had control of, claiming Taunton Cider was operating as usual again after their liquidation purchase.
Heritage states it has sold £200,000 of stock since it took over Taunton Cider and claims its five-year plan is to become one of the biggest names in alcohol again and to take on the larger, well established companies.
Mr Dunne is in the midst of an attempt to wrestle back what he claims are his brands, though parts of Taunton Cider have already been sold off by liquidator Anthony Hyams.
His firm, Insolve Plus, is understood to have been introduced to Mr Turczyniak by Mr Dunne’s former accountant, Andrew Nicholson. He also supplied him with a balance sheet, prepared by bookkeeper Shane Fisher, despite not being a company director, it is alleged.
Mr Dunne, who ploughed more than £600,000 in himself, claims it was not a true reflection of the financial situation and is considering applying for a new liquidator to be appointed.
He is also awaiting a ruling, which he believes will find in his favour, regarding intellectual property rights which he says he still owns.
Mr Dunne said: “In my opinion, Heritage Cider asset-stripped my company before forcing it into liquidation in a way in which they could claim it was virtually worthless. Heritage’s only assets and its team were all acquired from the Taunton Cider firm which I rebuilt. Creditors will not be happy to know they are now bragging about processing a million bottles of cider with a retail value of £1.6 million.”
An insider who has been party to the embittered negotiations said: “The way the company was snatched away from Jon is outrageous. He just got a phone call saying the other two directors were voting against him so he was history.
“One of them, we believe, was appointed unlawfully and this has been raised with the liquidator. The CVL vote is weighted on the basis of the debts owed to each creditor. So Turczyniak was unassailable – on paper.
“Jon has challenged all the figures on the balance sheet as it deleted his prior investment, did not include unpaid directors fees and expenses owing to him and the amount Turczyniak says is in turn owed to him.”
Mr Hyams was contacted but declined to comment.
David Syms, the director of Heritage Cider, said: “I am completely unaware of any complaints raised by Mr Dunne with the liquidator.
“There were company assets available which we legitimately bought. There was no conspiracy to seize the company from Mr Dunne against his wishes.”
A Heritage Cider spokesman said: “Jonathan Dunne was not a shareholder or owner and never was of the Taunton Cider Company Limited. All of the dealings with the APA [Asset Purchasing Agreement] were dealt via solicitors.”