PoleStar Okehampton buyer Devonshire Desserts part of Country Style Foods
Devonshire Desserts has not explained in detail what its plans are for the Okehampton factory, so it is unclear as yet whether it aims to re-employ some of the 232 staff at the site who recently lost their jobs.
A company spokesman said this week: "Devonshire Desserts is engaged in a detailed evaluation of the Okehampton plant. The future of the Okehampton factory will depend upon the outcome of this evaluation.”
Country Style Foods, which is headquartered in Leeds, also has sites in Flint, Peterlee, Stockton and Grimsby. It is understood to have been looking at PoleStar’s facilities at Okehampton and Leamington Spa in recent weeks.
Unforeseen problems
Although PoleStar's other factory at Leamington Spa went into administration in November, staff at Okehampton had believed their jobs were secure after Privet Capital - an expert in ‘turnaround private equity funding solutions’ - stepped in late last year to buy the site.
However, just two months after Privet claimed its intervention would provide PoleStar with a "renewed focus, increased financial strength and a clear strategic plan", 232 staff were informed at the end of January that due to "unforeseen problems", they were being made redundant .
PoleStar Foods was formed in December 2009 following the acquisition of Heinz’s UK frozen desserts business, with financial backing from Bank Leumi (UK), but quickly ran into financial problems.
