Two of vegetable packer Bomfords' packhouses have been sold, and a third wound down, in what administrators Deloitte describe as "one of the most complex and demanding insolvency assignments we have dealt with in recent years". Deloitte partner Andrew Peters said the challenge involved "balancing the interests of several stakeholders and maintaining the confidence of the company's major supermarket customers and its UK and overseas supply chain". Packhouses at Salford Priors and Atherstone were sold to Sandfields Farms and The Veg Table, respectively, as going concerns for an undisclosed amount. A purchaser could not be found for W Bailey of Essex, which will be wound down with the loss of 230 jobs. The company supplied brassicas, vegetables and imported pre-packed fresh, ready-to-eat vegetables. Bomfords went into administration six weeks ago, continuing to trade while sale negotiations were ongoing. At least 1,350 jobs have been safeguarded as a result of the sales. Its specialist prepared foods business, B Prepared, was sold to Keelings. Cost overruns associated with its Atherstone site contributed to difficulties for the £150m turnover business.

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