Tasmanian-headquartered food business HS Fresh Food has been placed into voluntary administration, with a sale or restructure of the business likely.
HS is a major supplier of salads and fresh produce to Coles and Woolworths and the parent company behind the brands Houston’s Farm, Sunfresh, Gourmet Selections and HS Fresh Farms.
Administrators from FTI Consulting are looking to continue trading the business while future options are explored.
“We are working with HS Fresh Food Group’s management team and staff, and other stakeholders to continue operations while we secure the future of the business,’’ FTI’s Vaughan Strawbridge said.
“A sale process for the business and assets of the HS Fresh Food Group was undertaken and in advanced stages at the time our appointment.”
“We intend to continue this process, whilst exploring all available options and are confident of completing a sale and/or recapitalisation of the business in an expedited time frame with the support of all relevant stakeholders.”
The company has a national network of farms and food processing and manufacturing sites across Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales.
The group employs several hundred people and is based out of Cambridge near Hobart Airport.