Wilson’s enters administration, costing final 35 jobs

By Laurence Gibbons

- Last updated on GMT

All employees at the Kendal mint cake production company have been made redundant
All employees at the Kendal mint cake production company have been made redundant

Related tags Confectionery

Cumbria-based chocolate manufacturer Wilson’s has fallen into administration as a result of “significant cash flow difficulties”, costing all remaining 35 employees their jobs.

It is believed a total of 121 employees have been made redundant from the business over the nine months.

The business, which operates from Holme, near Kendal, was bought out of pre-pack administration by Creative Confectionery in May 2015.

It was formed in 1913 and manufactured the famous Kendal mint cakes under the Wilson’s of Kendal brand.

Jeremy Woodside and Christopher Ratten of RSM Restructuring Advisory were appointed as administrators on February 12 2016.

‘Significant cash flow difficulties’

The company ceased to trade two weeks before the appointment of RSM with all the staff being made redundant once the administrators took over.

RSM partner and one of the administrators Jeremy Woodside said: “Unfortunately, due to significant cash flow difficulties the company has been placed in administration.

“Currently the administrators are marketing the company’s assets.”

Wilson's of Kendal timeline

  • 1903: Founded by James Wilson
  • 1966: Moved to Cross Lane production site in Kendal
  • 2013: Built a new facility in the area
  • 2015: Saved from administration by Creative Confectionery
  • 2016: Entered into administration again

Interested parties can contact the administrators for more information on 0161 830 400.

Wilson’s of Kendal operated from five production lines in Holme and produced 2M chocolates a week.

Creative Confectionery also manufactured chocolates, truffles, caramels, fudge, toffee and macaroons.

Costly relocation

A costly relocation to a purpose-built production facility in 2013 resulted in a period of financial uncertainty, Dow Schofield Watts Business Recovery – the firm that handled the initial pre-pack administration – said.

The firm was founded over 100 years’ ago when James Wilson purchased a factory in the Stricklandgate area of the town.

He had previously made and distributed types of toffee, but decided to concentrate on mint cake. In 1966, the firm moved to a location in the Cross Lane area of Kendal.

Kendal Mint Cake is a glucose-based confection flavoured with peppermint. Kendal Mint Cake is popular among climbers and mountaineers, especially those from the UK, as a source of energy.

Related news

Related suppliers

1 comment

Sad news

Posted by Ed Massiah,

Surely this is not the end of Kendal Mint Cake?

Report abuse

Follow us

Featured Jobs

View more

Webinars

PRODUCTS & SERVICES