Kent abattoir enters administration amid meat market pressure

A well-known Kent abattoir has gone into administration, underlining the pressure at the smaller-end of the meat processing sector.

Anglo Dutch Meats in Charing ceased trading last Friday (26 June), with the last butchery done at the start of this week.

The medium-sized abattoir slaughtered cattle, sheep and pigs to supply local and regional butchers.

See also: Strong sterling hampers ‘sound’ lamb prices

ADM bought some stock at Ashford market and some direct from farmers.

Director Stephen Saunders said trading had been difficult for the last couple of years and they had lost the backing of the bank, RBS.

He said he was not sure about the payments that needed to be made to creditors, which could include some producers.

“There will be something to come back for all of them,” he said.

Processing firms are under severe pressure in the volatile red meat trade, according to a latest report by analyst Plimsoll.

Of the UK’s top 150 abattoirs, 41 are classed as “in danger”, while 42 are making a loss and 16 lose more than a quarter of their value.

Last year Plimsoll gave 28% of firms a caution or danger rating, with margins under “severe competitive pressure”.

CVR Global has been appointed as administrator at ADM.

The recovery firm’s Bai Cham said the abattoir’s 20 to 30 staff had been made redundant last Friday.

“We are now looking to see how we can achieve the purpose of the administration,” he said.