Hunt’s Food Group, owner of Queenswood Natural Foods, has stepped in to purchase The Health Store (THS), which along with Tree of Life went into administration on 22 August.
The Health Store acquisition was completed on 31 August by Interpath Advisory, the insolvency firm assigned to manage the ‘affairs, business and property’ of the leading health foods wholesaler.
The sale enables The Health Store to resume trading ‘in a slightly different format’ from today, according to a letter addressed to retailers from Thomas Hunt, MD of Hunt’s Food Group.
In the letter, seen by NPN, Hunt confirms the acquisition enabled the group to retain ‘some of the key members of The Health Store team, who as this stage will be focusing on distributing the VMS, THS pre-pack and other non-food and bulk commodity lines out of the Nottingham site’ – a move the buyer describes as ‘keeping true to their team first value’.
At the time of entering administration THS employed 88 members of staff at its Nottingham head office. Hunt’s Food Group currently employs more than 450 staff and reports a turnover of £110 million.
THS-branded ambient, chilled and frozen goods can now be ordered through Queenswood Natural Foods. “Our purchasing team are currently looking at the brands we may be missing, so please bear with us as this will be a work in progress that we will endeavour to complete as soon as possible,” Hunt writes, adding: “If customers haven’t ordered through Queenswood Natural Foods previously, they will need to complete a new account form and then place their orders via www.huntsfoodgroup.co.uk or call 01935 810210.”
“We look forward to working with the new team members from The Health Store and learning from their wealth of knowledge in the industry. This investment from the group brings greater choice to our customers and complements our commitment to having the most competitive, comprehensive range available. We have exciting plans for the brand and are looking forward to developing these in the future,” he says.
Chris Pole, MD at Interpath and joint administrator, thanked ‘all those who helped to deliver this transaction within a short timetable’ and wished the group ‘every success in the future’.
“We’re pleased to have concluded the sale of The Health Store brand and its assets to Hunt’s Food Group, ensuring it will continue to trade and providing certainty for those employees who will transfer to the new owners. Hunt’s Food Group has an excellent reputation within the industry, and has broadened both its produce and service offerings in recent years to supply retail and natural products to farm shops, independent stores, coffee shops and online retailers.”
Image credit: Hunt’s Food Group
