The dairy is one of only six dairies permitted by law to make Stilton cheese under EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rules.
It has an annual turnover of about £1.8m and employs around 40 staff. It collapsed due to a £250,000 shortfall in cashflow as it expanded its production facilities, according to administrator SFP.
More news later this week
A spokesman for SFP said that it was talking to various interested parties and was confident of a speedy sale. It hoped that there would be more news later this week.
Joint administrator Simon Plant said: “The situation is unfortunate for Quenby Hall Dairy, there is a lack of cashflow at a time when the facilities were expanding.”
Quenby Hall, in Hungarton, Leicester was England’s first purpose-built dairy, operating from 1759.
Stilton was granted EU PDO status in 1996. This requires foods to be produced, processed and prepared exclusively within the specified geographic area using specialist know how.
