Bleiker’s Smoke House Limited - case update

The Joint Administrators of a Harrogate-based salmon smoke house have advised that the purchaser of the business’s assets has not paid the agreed amount, while the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed it is still investigating allegations made against the company last year.

Bleiker’s Smoke House Limited, one of the UK's leading salmon smoke houses, entered administration in April 2022, after the company lost its biggest customer, which represented approximately 50% of the company’s turnover. Philip Pierce and Martyn Pullin of FRP Advisory were appointed Joint Administrators.

Just after the appointment of Joint Administrators, the FSA announced that it was investigating the company over allegations of food fraud, including concerns about the country of origin claims on some of the company’s smoked salmon products.

In their latest progress report, the Joint Administrators advise that the purchaser of the company’s assets defaulted on the deferred and other payments due under the purchase agreement. The purchaser confirmed that it was unable to pay the £125,000 owing, and requested that the sum be paid in monthly instalments of £5,000. The purchaser is currently in arrears and the Joint Administrators are liaising with their solicitors to consider next steps.

In addition, reporting from the Stray Ferret recently confirmed that the FSA is still investigating an allegation that smoked salmon was labelled as fresh and Scottish when it was allegedly sourced frozen from Norway.

The Joint Administrators’ latest progress report can be found HERE. They have been assisted by Shoosmiths.