Machinery manufacturer Apple Food Systems enters administration

On the firm’s Companies House page, it is listed as ‘in administration’ as of 2 January 2024, while a notice confirming the appointment of administrators is also available.

Based in Hull, East Yorkshire, Apple Food Systems designs, manufactures and installs bespoke depositors, transfer pumps, volumetric fillers, cake decorating systems, automated cake lines, multi-head depositors and bespoke food processing systems. It is a family-owned business that was established in 1985, with more than 300 years’ of combined experience supplying processing equipment to the food manufacturing industry.

Its unaudited abridged accounts for the year ending 30 September 2022 valued the firm’s total current assets at £828,783, with its net current assets at £191,990. As of this date, the firm employed a total of nine people.

The firm’s assets are currently listed on the website of Gilbert Baitson, a Hull-based auction house. The assets listed include large stocks of spares and components, the plant and machinery, a stock of demonstration and exhibition models, the leasehold property, financial reports and statements (available upon request), the customer database and technical drawings and designs.

According the listing, Gilbert Baitson is seeking offers for the business, work in progress and its assets. Offers can be submitted until 26 January via email.

Companies House lists John Butler and Andrew Nichols as the administrators, both of whom are partners at independent insolvency firm Redman Nichols Butler.

Food Manufacture has reached out to Apple Food Systems, Gilbert Baitson and Redman Nichols Butler for comment.

In other news, Food Manufacture explores ways that cash-strapped businesses can invest in new plant and machinery on a budget and some of the programmes available to them to support the next stage in their growth.​​