Smethwick-based Sunrise Bakery has been rescued out of administration via a pre-pack deal, safeguarding the jobs of its 23-strong workforce.
William Herman Ltd, the company behind the family-run Caribbean bakery specialist, entered administration on 13 November following a “sustained period of losses driven by rising operational costs”. This included incurring net liabilities of £172k and £280k in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The sale of the business and assets to a third-party buyer for a total consideration of £70k was completed immediately upon appointment of Opus Restructuring & Insolvency, ensuring the continuation of trading. The administrators confirmed that no redundancies were made, and all 23 employees were transferred to the new owner as part of the transaction.
“We are delighted to have secured the rescue of a business with such heritage, having traded in various forms since 1966,” commented Opus director and joint administrator Mark Siddall. “Safeguarding the jobs of the dedicated workforce and ensuring the bakery’s future was our absolute priority, and we are very pleased to have achieved that outcome.”
The administrators are to support employees with any statutory claims and complete the remaining statutory duties, including realising residual assets and undertaking required investigations.
While adminstrators declined to name the buyer, a LinkedIn post from Quick Foods Products owner Anthony Davis indicated that his Wolverhampton-based company was behind the acquisition.
Quick Foods Products produces the Jamaican patty brand The Original Patty Co. Like Sunrise Bakery, the manufacturer was established in the 1960s by members of the Windrush generation.
British Baker has reached out to both Sunrise Bakery and Quick Foods Products for comment.
As West Indian immigrants, Sunrise Bakery founders Herman Drummond and William Lamont endured racial discrimination including being unable to take out business loans. However, they managed to save enough of their factory salaries to open Sunrise Bakery in 1966 in Warley, moving a short distance away to its current site opposite Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick 15 years later.
The company has since grown to become one of the largest suppliers of Caribbean bakery products in the UK, producing the likes of hardo bread (sandwich loaf), Caribbean spiced buns, and Jamaican cakes in flavours of fruit, banana, ginger, and coconut & pineapple. It also has a vegan cake range under its One Love brand.
The Lamont family exited the business in 2009, while Herman’s son Errol Drummond took over as managing director. He has since continued its expansion joined by his own son, Daniel, achieving listings at selected stores of Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s as well as over 150 independent retailers.
No comments yet