Insider Media Limited

The Birmingham office of RSM Tenon has been appointed administrator to frozen food delivery business Eismann UK and its associate company Country Home Foods. The business adviser said it is now seeking potential buyers for the business and assets.

The companies, based at a head office in Bedford, were forced to close last week, resulting in the redundancies of around 80 franchisee driver salespeople across the UK.

Eismann UK sells frozen food door-to-door and Country Home Foods carries out home delivery of frozen meals to older people.

The companies have long established national networks operating from 11 depots throughout the UK – including Corby, Selby and Worcester.

Combined turnover of both companies in 2010 was £9.8m.

Beverley Marsh, of RSM Tenon, said: “Around 80 franchisee drivers across the companies’ branches were made redundant on 31 January as the company could no longer trade the business while in administration, due to the sums owed to franchisees and suppliers.

“The administrators have also carried out a scaling down of manpower at head office, where a further 16 employees were made redundant.

"We are now seeking interested parties who are interested in taking over the business and assets. Eismann UK is a well known brand which has operated in the UK for more than 25 years and was a thriving firm.

“However, it appears that the launch of supermarket chains delivering groceries door to door has had a drastic impact on the turnover of the group."