Major UK crips model into administration after 54 years as 95 jobs in danger
Glens of Antrim Potatoes Ltd, a beloved UK crisp brand stocked in major supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, has collapsed into administration after 54 years in business
The crisp company has sadly ceased trading(Image: Getty)
A beloved crisp brand that was previously stocked in major supermarkets across the UK has tragically collapsed into administration and stopped trading. Following 54 years of operation, Glens of Antrim Potatoes Ltd has gone bust and will no longer be producing snacks.
The firm, which was established in 1972, provided potatoes to shops throughout the UK and Ireland. Subsequently, in 2015, they unveiled the Glens of Antrim crisp range. Various leading retailers in the UK, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, were suppliers of the crisps.
The business, headquartered in Cushendall and Ballymena, has ceased operations after crashing into administration. Stuart Irwin, Ian Leonard, and Robin Coughlin from Interpath were named as joint administrators on September 21.
The crisps were sold in major retailers like Sainsbury’s and Tesco(Image: Sainsbury’s)
Mr Irwin, who is also managing director at Interpath, said: “Glens of Antrim has been growing and supplying potatoes across Ireland for over 50 years, so this is a tremendously sad outcome for the business, its dedicated team, the agri- food sector in Northern Ireland, and the wider community in Ballymena and Cushendall.”, reports the Express.
Glens of Antrim employed 95 workers, though most have now been laid off, with only a handful retained to assist with the administration proceedings.
The cause behind the company’s unfortunate demise stems from escalating expenses throughout the agri-food industry, which places enormous strain on enterprises along the entire supply chain.
Consequently, Glens of Antrim encountered severe cash flow difficulties and was forced to shut down. The directors examined various options including refinancing and pursuing fresh investment, but none proved successful.
The administrators are now appealing for interest in the company and its assets, urging any prospective purchasers or parties keen on acquiring the business to get in touch without delay.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the sole firm to have collapsed into administration lately. True Brit Entertainment, a prominent UK film distributor, has also recently tumbled into administration following three years of trading.
The organisation focused on securing UK rights for major cinema releases, including the recently launched Hugh Jackman picture, The Death of Robin Hood.
Established by seasoned film industry figure Zygi Kamasa in 2023, the firm assisted in co-financing and producing numerous British film and television ventures.
It emerged at the close of September that the enterprise had been placed into administration, with administrators assigned to the company earlier last week, blaming “extremely challenging market conditions”.
