In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at some of the larger companies that ran into difficulties over the year.
What could loosely be termed “economic headwinds” have caused trouble for thousands of companies around the UK in recent years, and in 2023 the storm hit several large local employers.
Some were rescued, but others sank without trace. Here, we take another look at some of the bigger companies that hit the rocks over the last 12 months.
Amvoc
Back in March, as many as 230 people lost their jobs after Harrogate telemarketing company Amvoc crashed into administration.
Amvoc’s clients included some big names, such as BP, Barclays and Virgin Media, as well as the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
But administrator Gareth Lewis, of Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency, said in his report that the company had entered into a company voluntary arrangement in 2017 due to “cash flow difficulties” because of the loss of a major customer and “significant bad debt”.
Amvoc’s former head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate.
Amvoc paid off the bad debt, but only just in time for the start of the covid pandemic. The company, which had unusually high staff turnover – 20 to 30 employees left and started each month – couldn’t cope with lockdown, and even after restrictions were eased, its offices were closed by Public Health England in August 2020 after 50 staff contracted coronavirus.
Meanwhile, many of Amvoc’s customers held back on projects due to uncertainty caused by the pandemic, leading to an unsustainable trading position.
Farmison
In April, high-end butcher Farmison went into administration, threatening the jobs of its 100 or so employees. This time, though, the story had a happier outcome.
The Ripon-based firm, which was founded by John Pallagi and Lee Simmons in 2011, had an impressive client list that included Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Michelin starred restaurants.
Major cashflow problems saw it fall into administration with debts of £7 million, but it was quickly bought out of administration by a consortium led by Andy Clark, former chief executive of Asda, for an undisclosed sum.
Farmison is now back in business, with a leaner staff of 60 under former Marks & Spencer managing director Andy Adcock as chief executive. It relaunched its Cut by Farmison butcher’s shop at its Ripon headquarters earlier this month, plans to open more shops in a bid to diversify, and aims to increase annual turnover to £20 million.
Black Sheep Brewery
Challenging economic conditions were also behind the difficulties that corralled Black Sheep Brewery into administration in May.
The Masham company headed off what it called a “local employment catastrophe” by selling out to London investment firm the Breal Group for £5 million, saving about 50 jobs, including that of chief executive Charlene Lyons.
Black Sheep Brewery’s CEO, Charlene Lyons.
Ms Lyons said that Black Sheep was not the brewing industry’s first casualty and warned it would not be the last. Speaking in June, she said:
“In the last 12 months, 45 breweries entered insolvency in the UK, a three-fold increase on the previous year, as the cost-of-living crisis has squeezed household disposable income.
“This has had an extreme and adverse effect on all brewers’ sales, at a time when their own costs and inflation are high. Black Sheep has not been immune to these factors, leading it to the administration process. It is highly likely that many more will follow in the coming months.”
Ilke Homes
Around 1,100 people lost their jobs when Ilke Homes collapsed into administration in June, owing nearly £400 million to more than 300 creditors.
The company, which manufactured modular housing in a huge factory at Flaxby, near Knaresborough, had been toasted as a stand-out success story on the region’s business landscape.
Established in 2017, it built up a client base that included major institutional investors, housing associations, developers and local councils.
In 2021, Ilke Homes raised £60 million in investment, and a year later, it raised a record-breaking £100 million from new and existing shareholders, following successive years of triple-digit growth.
But despite a healthy-looking order book, it eventually ran into financial difficulties it attributed to “volatile macro-economic conditions and issues with the planning system”.
The company said it needed additional funding to build its £1 billion pipeline of 4,200 new homes, but that wasn’t forthcoming, and so it was forced to fold.
Most creditors saw little or nothing of their investment, including government-owned Homes England, which is believed to have received just 0.01% of the £68 million it was owed.
The demise of one of the area’s largest employers was naturally not without drama. More than 600 employees took legal action over the way the redundancy process was managed, hoping for compensation of up to eight weeks’ pay.
And in August – just two days after the firm’s assets had been auctioned by administrators – thieves stole “a large amount of equipment” from its factory, just off junction 47 of the A1(M). Bizarrely, they even refused to leave the site and continued to load up vehicles, even after the police arrived on site. Investigations are believed to be ongoing.
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Hot Seat: Reviving Ripon retailer Farmison
It was one of the most remarkable local business stories of the year.
Farmison & Co, which employed about 100 people in Ripon, went into administration on April 6, sparking a desperate battle for survival.
The loss of the firm, whose ‘eat better meat’ ethos had attracted clients including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, would have been a major blow not only for those losing their jobs but also for Ripon as a whole.
But after two weeks of fraught negotiations, a consortium led by former Asda chief executive Andy Clarke and Chilli Marketing founder Gareth Whittle struck a deal with the administrator to bring Farmison back to life.
In a year that has seen the collapse of other prominent local businesses with the loss of hundreds of jobs, including Flaxby housebuilder Ilke Homes and Harrogate telemarketing firm Amvoc, Farmison survived.
Farmison’s Ripon headquarters.
But what has happened since to ensure it wasn’t a short-term stay of execution?
One of the consortium’s first acts was to hire Weeton-based Andy Adcock as chief executive.
Mr Adcock’s 30-year retail career includes stints at Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and — alongside Mr Clarke — at Asda.
Farmison, he says, operated a sound business model but was operating beyond its means and the first priority was to bring down costs.
It now employs 60 staff, many of them rehires from its former life, which is just over half of its previous allocation. But after nine months, the focus is beginning to change from consolidation to growth.
Mr Adcock says:
“We have had to get leaner. We are now operating at the level we need and it’s all about growth.
“I wouldn’t have joined if I didn’t think the business had huge potential. It’s about tapping into that potential. The idea was always good but managing the cost base had become challenging.
“We are now doing it in a sensible manner and investing in growth rather than putting ourselves in a position where we put ourselves under pressure.”
Andy Adcock with some of the Farmison cuts.
Traditionally known as an online butchers, 92% of Farmison products are sold directly to customers online.
It relaunched its Cut by Farmison butchers shop at its Ripon headquarters on Bondgate Green this month and also announced plans to open more shops in a bit to diversify.
Mr Adcock says:
“We have this fabulous factory in Ripon, which is at the front end of a huge craft butchery operation. We’ve not been maximising the retail capability and the potential of this shop for local people.
“We also want to develop other channels to develop the offline business by supplying premium retailers like Harrods and Michelin-star chefs.”
Grantley Hall near Ripon is among the local hotels buying its premium meat.
Farmison has also announced a new deal with Harrods, an expansion of its home delivery service and an entry into the fish market through a partnership with online seafood business Fish for Thought.
Mr Adcock says the ambition is to increase annual turnover to £20 million.
This month’s relaunch of Cut by Farmison.
His friendly and informal style seems well suited to the business. When we arrived at Bondgate Green he was wearing a Christmas jumper and talked enthusiastically about mucking in over the festive period by packing boxes.
After three decades at national retailers, how is he finding the transition to a smaller company?
He says:
“It’s very different to a big corporate environment but that comes with a level of complexity and slowness of decision-making that we don’t need with a business like this.”
Read more:
- Revived Farmison fully reopens Ripon shop
- Ripon firm Farmison to trade again after buyout completed
- Ripon City Council withdraws support for cathedral development
But retail and meat run through his career like streaky bacon and he talks enthusiastically about Farmison’s approach, which involves selling British dry aged, free range meat reared from heritage breeds by artisan farmers in northern England. In his opinion, Galloway cattle, produce the best quality beef.
People don’t go to Farmisons for cheap meat. The company appeals to customers who are prepared to pay for premium cuts and are supportive of the company’s mission. He talks about exporting to expats in Singapore and Hong Kong who want quality heritage British breeds.
Mr Adcock says:
“I love meat, I love retail and Farmisons is such a nice business with so many people wanting to make it a success.”
He’s far from alone in his love of meat. Farmisons’ job is about getting enough of them to buy into its model.
But after its Easter resurrection, plenty of people in Ripon and beyond will be tucking into Farmisons meat over the festive period. And that’s a local miracle worth celebrating this Christmas.
Farmsion relaunches Ripon butchers shop
Premium meat retailer Farmison & Co relaunched its butchers shop in Ripon today.
Cut by Farmison, which is based at the firm’s headquarters on Bondgate Green, is now open every day of the week except Sundays from 9am to 6pm.
It previously opened on fewer days until 4pm.
The relaunch marked the latest phase in the company’s recovery since it was rescued from administration in April by a consortium led by ex-Asda chief executive Andy Clarke and Chilli Marketing owner Gareth Whittle.
Meat being prepared at Cut by Farmison.
Farmison also announced today it had reached an agreement to supply Harrods in London.
It has also entered the fish market through a partnership with online seafood business Fish for Thought.
It hopes the move to extend the opening hours of its Ripon shop will attract more shoppers from the city and nearby places such as Harrogate who are attracted to the company’s free range, grass-fed approach to butchery.
Farmison also plans to open more shops nationally to diversify from its online model, which currently accounts for 92% of its business.
Andy Adcock outside the Ripon shop today.
Chief executive Andy Adcock said:
“We have this fabulous factory in Ripon, which is at the front end of a huge craft butchery operation.
“We’ve not been maximising the retail capability and the potential of this shop for local people.
“The quality of the product here is not the same as what you will get anywhere else.”
Paul Minett, who has joined Farmison as a retail consultant, was in the store today for free tastings and to provide cooking advice.
Read more:
- Hot Seat: Bringing Ripon firm Farmison back to life
- Ripon firm Farmison to trade again after buyout completed
Road reopens in Ripon after Toyota crashes into tree
A section of one of the main roads in Ripon closed this afternoon due to a crash.
Bondgate Green was blocked between Farmison & Co and the Ripon bypass after a black Toyota car collided with a tree.
No other vehicles were involved.
North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened at about 11.50am.
A spokesperson added:
“A black Toyota Yaris car ended up crashing into a tree. The driver was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment. Her dog was also checked over by a vet.
“The driver reported a small dark car, possibly a Fiat, had caused her to take evasive action. The driver did not stop as they headed to Ripon city centre. They are urged to contact the police as soon as possible to assist the investigation.
“There was only limited traffic disruption while the ambulance was in attendance. The car was recovered at 1.10pm.
“If you are the driver of the small dark car, you possibly witnessed the incident or have dash-cam footage, please email Adam.Deacon2@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting reference number 12230175042.”
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Business Breakfast: Ripon meat retailer appoints new chief executive
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Farmison & Co has appointed a new chief executive.
The online butcher, which was recently bought out by a consortium led by former Asda CEO Andy Clark, has recruited Andy Adcock to take up the position.
Mr Adcock is a former managing director at M&S and has spent 20 years in the food trade.
Mr Clark, executive chairman at Farmison, said:
“I’d like to welcome Andy to the Farmison team – I’ve every confidence he’ll bring even more momentum as we build a sustainable future for our business.”
The appointment comes as the meat retailer has also announced a partnership with delivery service Gopuff.
It means products including bacon, sausages chicken and steaks, will be available for 15 minute delivery in Gopuff’s London delivery area.
New partner at Harrogate’s solicitors
Harrogate solicitors Raworths has announced it has appointed a new partner.
Rachel Mainwaring-Taylor will join the firm’s trusts, wills and estates team as part of a strategic growth plan at the company.
Rachel Mainwaring-Taylor. Picture: Raworths
Rachel joins the firm from London-based Farrer & Co, where she advised individuals, families and trustees on issues including succession, wealth structuring and governance.
Rachel Tunnicliffe, senior partner and head of private client services at Raworths, said;
“We are absolutely delighted to have attracted someone of Rachel’s calibre, contributing further to the strategic growth of our specialist teams across the firm.
“As families become more international, Rachel’s cross-border experience will be a particularly valuable addition to the support which we already offer to our clients.”
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Farmers and creditors owed £7m after Ripon firm collapsed
Farmers and unsecured creditors were owed £7 million following the collapse of Ripon meat retailer Farmison&Co, administrators have revealed.
In an update, FRP Advisory estimated the unsecured creditors are unlikely to get any money back.
The report revealed that, despite investment from Scottish private investor Inverleith, Farmison incurred losses of £3.4 million in 2022 and continued to have cashflow problems going into January 2023.
FRP was appointed in April after Farmison collapsed.
The company was quickly acquired from administration by a consortium led by Andy Clark, former chief executive of Asda, for an undisclosed sum.
The new company has resumed trading under the Farmison name on the same Bondgate Green site.
Staff set for 31p in the pound
The report reveals staff were owed pay, unpaid pension contributions and holiday pay totalling £86,000 and are estimated to receive 31p in the pound.
HMRC, which is classed as a secondary preferential creditor, is owed £131,466. But administrators estimate it will not receive any payment, nor will the unsecured creditors owed £7 million.
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The unsecured creditors include Maidenhead-based Copas Traditional Turkeys Ltd, which claimed £171,714 from the company.
London-based media group, Inceni Studios, is also owed £5,300. The company helped to make videos for Farmison.
Local firms affected include C and L Harrison of Grewelthorpe, which was owed £7,190, Roecliffe firm DB Engineering (Ripon), which was owed and Harrogate firm Studio One, which was owed £1,044.
A report by FRP Advisory said:
“It is currently estimated that there will not be sufficient funds available to make a distribution to unsecured creditors.”
In response to the administrators report, a spokesperson for the new company said:
“We’re pleased to have rescued the business from administration, re-employing many of the team in Ripon and bringing back its hand-picked farmers from across the north of England.
“We’re already trading again and we’re grateful for the messages of support from customers.
“That positive reaction underlines how much potential we know there is for the kind of high-quality, traceable produce Farmison offers.
“The whole team is now focused on making Farmison the success we know it can be, serving customers who want to eat better meat.”
Farmison’s new owners celebrated the full reopening of its Ripon shop, Cut by Farmison&Co, last weekend.
Revived Farmison fully reopens Ripon shop
Online premium meat retailer Farmison & Co held an event in Ripon on Saturday to mark its shop fully re-opening.
Cut by Farmison & Co is now serving customers from 9am to 2pm every Saturday at Bondgate Green, as well as from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday to Friday. It also provides a click and collect service Monday to Saturday.
In-house butcher Jeff Baker held a barbecue and special offers were available to celebrate the firm’s rapid revival.
Farmison ceased trading in April when the firm collapsed into administration.
A consortium led by ex-Asda chief executive Andy Clarke and Chilli Marketing owner Gareth Whittle acquired the business and began a phased reopening last month.
Mr Whittle and chief operating officer Michelle Kennedy were at the Ripon site on Saturday to celebrate the comeback.
Gareth Whittle and Michelle Kennedy outside Cut on Saturday
Mr Whittle said the first aim was to stabilise then focus on increasing revenue from e-commerce as well as wholesale and retail channels. He added:
“Michelle and the team have moved mountains to get us back open.
“We are working with pretty much all the key suppliers, who have been incredibly supportive.”
Mr Whittle said the company’s mission to provide better meat sourced sustainably in the UK persuaded him to get involved, adding:
“I honestly believe in what we are doing and am excited about our plans.”
Staff recruitment
Ms Kennedy, who has been with Farmison since it was founded in 2011, said the company had started trading online within eight days of being rescued and had been building up the business since.
It now has 42 staff, many of whom worked for the firm pre-administration, and expected to be up to 59 this year.
Ms Kennedy said Mr Clarke and Mr Whittle brought fresh strategic thinking and strong business connections to Farmison. She added:
“It’s amazing to have them resurrecting the business. Gareth is a marketeer and has huge expertise in that area and Andy is a retailer with a wealth of business he can provide to the business.”
Read more:
- Ripon firm Farmison begins phased re-opening today
- Hot Seat: Bringing Ripon firm Farmison back to life
- Fears for rural transport as Masham and Ripon minibus service is scrapped
Ripon firm Farmison begins phased re-opening today
Ripon online butcher Farmison & Co is to start selling some items again today.
The company, which was acquired from administration last month by a consortium led by ex-Asda chief executive Andy Clarke, will sell a selection of heritage breeds here.
More ranges will be brought back to the website over the weeks ahead.
The company’s Ripon shop at Bondgate Green and click-and-collect location, ‘Cut by Farmison’, will also re-open this week.
Farmison is in the process of recruiting 50 staff and re-engaging suppliers after it ceased trading on April 6 and entered administration.
Now, after a certification inspection at its Ripon headquarters, the Food Standards Agency has given the company the green light to restart operations.
It has obtained commitments from farming partners in the north of England, that they will continue to supply Farmison with the grass-fed, heritage breed meat that is at the heart of the firm’s customer promise to ‘eat better meat’.
The sustainable online meat retailer was acquired last week by a consortium led by Mr Clarke and Chilli Marketing’s Gareth Whittle, Christian Barton and Kieron Barton.
Initial ranges available to customers online include 32-day dry-aged rib steak, handmade hot dogs and Farmison & Co’s signature cut dry aged sirloin steak alongside pork, chicken and lamb.
Executive chairman Mr Clarke said:
“I want to give a massive thank you to the Farmison team who’ve acted with incredible speed to bring the business back to life – and of course to our farmers across Yorkshire and the north, who are determined to support the business get back on its feet.
“We’ve been absolutely bowled over by the messages of support from colleagues, customers and suppliers since taking ownership of the business.
“It will be some weeks yet before we have our full ranges back online, but we thank each and every one of the customers who’ve sent us those messages of encouragement and support over the past few weeks. It means the world to the whole Farmison team.”
Farmison & Co sells online directly to customers across the UK, and through wholesale channels such as Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Michelin star restaurants.
Read more:
- Hot Seat: Bringing Ripon firm Farmison back to life
- Ripon firm Farmison begins hiring staff as it prepares for comeback