The Dent family’s pig business, Dent Ltd, has been put into administration.
Administrators Adrian Berry and Clare Boardman from Deloitte were called in to the business on December 2, and are now seeking a buyer for the Cumbria-based business that had annual sales approaching £40 million.
“We will liaise closely with the company’s customers and will work with management and the contract farmers to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained,” Mr Berry said.
“The business will continue to trade and a sale process undertaken, and no redundancies are planned at this stage.”
Dent Ltd is thought to have about 9,000 sows following the sale of 3,000 sows to Cranswick plc earlier this year. It supplies high-welfare pork to major retailers including Sainsbury’s, and has 67 employees.
Only the Dent family’s pig farming business has entered administration. Its dairy company, North Lakes Foods Limited, and haulage operations are continuing to trade as normal.