UK meat supplier Russell Hume goes into administration

Meat supplier Russell Hume was placed into administration on Monday with the loss of more than 260 jobs after an investigation by the Food Standards Agency led to a major product recall.

KPMG has been appointed as administrators to the Derby-based company, which supplied meat to commercial customers including the JD Wetherspoon pub chain.

The FSA said its investigation concerned Russell Hume's failure to comply with food hygiene regulations.

“We then looked right across this UK-wide business and concluded that the non-compliance was serious and widespread enough to advise stopping all production at Russell Hume plants and initiate a withdrawal of products,” the FSA said last month.

Russell Hume directors said the FSA's decision had created “impossible trading conditions for us" and defended their firm.

"The fact that its investigations have become industry-wide and a number of other firms have also had issues, strongly suggests there is a lack of clarity in the industry and in current FSA guidelines,” they said.“Prior to this, we had a long, unblemished record for supplying quality meat products.”

KPMG administrator Chris Pole said the recent product recall and stoppage in operations had led to customers leaving.