Wetherspoon’s steak supplier Russell Hume goes into administration after major meat scandal
The firm supplied beef, chicken, pork, lamb and steak cuts to Wetherspoon's, Jamie Oliver's restaurants and Green King pubs
RUSSELL Hume, the meat supplier at the centre of a major meat scandal, has gone into administration, blaming food watchdogs for the way the situation was handled.
The firm supplied meat to the Wetherspoon's pub chain, Jamie Oliver restaurants, Hilton Hotels and Greene King pubs.
Last month, the Food Standards Agency investigated the firm after receiving reports about its hygiene standards.
The administration has lead to the loss of 300 jobs.
Wetherspoon's was among the companies to pull its contract with Russell Hume after temporarily taking sirloin, rump and gammon steak off the menu following a "mislabelling issue".
The pub chain signed a deal with a new supplier - Fairfax Meadow - after the problem.
Administrators KPMG said 266 staff had been made redundant from a workforce of 302.
In a statement, the directors of Russell Hume said: "Unfortunately, the FSA's action created impossible trading conditions for us, and after careful reflection we have decided the best thing for the company and its creditors is to put Russell Hume into administration.
"This decision has been heartbreaking.
"We will continue to work with the FSA with regards to the issues it raised, but we still feel its action has been out of all proportion to the concerns it says it has identified.
"Had it worked more closely with us in the crucial early stages of the situation, then more than 300 jobs may not have been lost.
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"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.
"Prior to this, we had a long, unblemished record for supplying quality meat products. We would like to thank our customers for their support, but above all our loyal and hard-working staff, some of whom have been with us a great many years.
"They were all an integral part of our success, and we are very sorry the Russell Hume story should have ended in such a sudden and devastating way. Our thoughts today are with them and their families."
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