Shropshire event catering firm collapses
An outdoor event catering company based in Shropshire, which at its peak employed almost 200 people, has gone into liquidation.
Express Cafes, which was based in Express House at Shrewsbury's Oxon Business Park, is to hold a creditors' meeting in Manchester tomorrow.
It has collapsed after a major financial backer withdrew support, removing its main source of funding.
Its most recent accounts, for the year ending January 2013, show it had been turning over almost £9 million.
In 2011 it had employed more an average of 180 people, boasting that it was the largest mobile catering firm in the UK.
The company website shows a portfolio that includes providing catering for Chelsea FC, the Ryder Cup and at Twickenham, the English national rugby stadium.
Last year it partnered Reggae Reggae Sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots to launch chicken and beef burger trailers for use at outdoor events. It also worked with the West Cornwall Pasty Company, Costa and Pimms on branded catering vans and had sold its products at the Grand National.
But it was unable to tackle its cashflow problems.
In a statement published on its website, the company today said: "It is with regret that the board of directors of Express Cafes Ltd announce that a decision has been made to enter the company into voluntary liquidation.
"The company has been experiencing tough trading difficulties due to the withdrawal of a funding stream."
It said the collapse had come despite extensive efforts to find a solution that could have saved the company and maintained jobs.
The statement continued: "Earlier this year an offer was received from an investor but unfortunately negotiations broke down and the offer was withdrawn."
