Warnings of potential knock-on impact on growers and businesses after prepared salad company collapses
Evesham-based food manufacturer Kanes Foods, a major supplier of prepared salads and fresh convenience products, has gone into administration.
Some 662 jobs have been lost as a result.
Timothy Andrew Higgins, Edward Williams and Helen Wheeler-Jones of PwC were appointed the joint administrators on 9 November. Trading ceased immediately upon appointment of the joint administrators.
Founded in 1990 by Dr John Randall, Kanes Foods supplied several major UK supermarkets with leafy greens, prepared salads, salad bowls, as well as stir-fry products and dressings.
According to the joint administrators, the failure of the company’s wastewater treatment plant in June 2025 resulted in significant disruption, costing around £2mn in costs and leading to a lasting increase in operating costs.
Drought-related supply chain disruption in August 2026 further affected trading, according to the administrators.
At the peak of the summer in August, almost three-quarters of England was declared to be in drought.
The company’s directors explored refinancing and a number of alternative funding options, but ”no workable solution” was found, according to PwC.
An accelerated sale process was launched in mid-September but could not conclude a sale of the business as a going concern.
Nigel Huddleston, MP for Droitwich and Evesham, described the closure as “devastating” for the hundreds of people and families who have lost jobs.
He also warned of the potential knock-on impact on other businesses in the supply chain, adding that it was not yet clear if any parts of the business might be sold.
“I am liaising with the administrators and the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that employees who have lost their jobs receive the appropriate support and advice,” he said.
