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Collapsed Canterbury firm A Gomez Ltd to sell Bridge headquarters early this year, administrator’s report reveals

Headquarters belonging to a defunct fresh produce firm are expected to be sold early this year.

A Gomez Ltd, which distributed fruit across Europe and was based in Bridge, near Canterbury, brought in administrators in 2023 after suddenly shutting down, with the 10.4 acre site going on the market for £22 million.

Inside the A Gomez headquarters after the fruit packaging and distribution firm went into administration in 2023. Picture: Colliers
Inside the A Gomez headquarters after the fruit packaging and distribution firm went into administration in 2023. Picture: Colliers

The hefty price was later slashed to £16.9 million, and now administrators RSM have confirmed the sale of the freehold is expected to be completed early this year.

This latest development can be found in a report on the administrator’s progress, uploaded to Companies House in January, but further details could not be provided due to the “commercially sensitive” nature of the sale.

The documents also confirmed employees have progressed with efforts to claim a protective award.

A protected award can be given when more than 20 employees are made redundant from one location within specific time frames and when an employer has not complied with the collective redundancy consultation requirements.

Furthermore, it is expected the company will exit administration through a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation process before December 10 this year.

The former headquarters of A Gomez are expected to be sold early this year. Picture: Colliers
The former headquarters of A Gomez are expected to be sold early this year. Picture: Colliers

This is when the company closes down and includes the liquidator securing and realising any assets that the firm owns, reporting on the reasons for the company’s insolvency, considering the conduct of the directors and submitting a conduct report to the Insolvency Service.

The process requires shareholder approval of 75%, at which point a liquidator is appointed.

The firm currently owes more than £13 million, with HSBC the leading creditor.

A Gomez once farmed more than 3,250 hectares of land in Spain, while maintaining much smaller plots in the Netherlands and the UK.

Raquel Hernandez said in a letter to employees at the time of closure that financial pressures on the business meant shareholders and directors had to take the reluctant decision to “cease operations with immediate effect.”

There are 18 dock-level loading bays for lorries at the Coldharbour Lane site. Picture: Colliers
There are 18 dock-level loading bays for lorries at the Coldharbour Lane site. Picture: Colliers

It is understood bosses at the firm had planned to wind down the business and cease trading between February and March this year – with the sudden closure taking many by surprise.

On the same day as administrators being appointed, 426 employees were made redundant.

As late as 2022, A Gomez Ltd was looking to expand the Cold Harbour Lane site, with plans approved in September that year to make room for more HGVs to stay overnight.

Made up of four adjoining steel portal frame buildings, the headquarters have 18 docking levels, offices and a reception.

There is also a temperature-controlled storage space and 300 parking spots.

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