Simtom Food Products, a UK business producing ethnic-style condiments, has gone into administration.
The company, based in Leicestershire in the English Midlands, has been impacted by Covid lockdowns and labour shortages, according to its administrator Interpath Advisory.
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Most of its 60-strong workforce has been made redundant.
Founded in 1977 by Jai Chandarana who, together with his family, settled in the UK after the ethnic Asian community was evicted from Tanzania in east Africa, Sumtom produced mainly Indian sauces, pickles, chutneys and pastes under the Timtom and Chef’s Speciality brands.
It supplied supermarkets and catering businesses.
In a statement, Interpath Advisory said: “The family-owned business has in the last few years invested heavily in growing its operations, but plans for implementation were hampered by the onset of Covid-19 lockdowns. This, coupled with more recent labour shortages, placed significant pressure on the business, resulting in the appointment of the joint administrators.”
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By GlobalDataJoint administrator Tim Bateson added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the implementation of Simtom’s strategic plans, which when coupled with the recent labour shortages has had a significant impact on this award-winning food manufacturer.
“Our immediate priority is to support those employees who have been made redundant.”
Bateson said the administrators will be seeking offers for the business and its assets.
The company reported a turnover of GBP18m (US$24.9m) in the 18 months to 31 March 2020, according to figures filed with Companies House in London.
