Glens of Antrim Potatoes, maker of Glens of Antrim crisps, enters administration after 54 years

Mixed · 2Glens of Antrim Potatoes Ltd, a company founded in 1972, has entered administration and stopped trading after 54 years. 1 2 Mixed · 2The firm, based in Cushendall and Ballymena in Northern Ireland, supplied potatoes to retailers across the UK and Ireland and launched its Glens of Antrim crisp brand in 2015; retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury's stocked the crisps. 1 2 Mixed · 2Stuart Irwin, Ian Leonard and Robin Coughlin of Interpath were appointed joint administrators on 21 September. 1 2

Right · 1Irwin, who is also managing director at Interpath, called it a "tremendously sad outcome" for the business, its team, Northern Ireland's agri-food sector and the communities of Ballymena and Cushendall. 1 Mixed · 2The company employed 95 staff. Most have been made redundant, and only a small number were kept on to support the administration process. 1 2 Mixed · 2Both reports attribute the collapse to rising costs across the agri-food sector, which put pressure on the supply chain and left the company with significant cash flow problems. 1 2

Mixed · 2The directors explored options including refinancing and seeking new investment, but none succeeded. The administrators are now seeking interest in the business and its assets and have invited potential buyers to get in touch. 1 2 Mixed · 2Both outlets also note another recent administration, the film distributor True Brit Entertainment, founded by Zygi Kamasa in 2023, which cited "extremely challenging market conditions". 1 2