Christmas pudding supplier The Ultimate Food Company has entered administration after trading for more than 30 years.

All 20 employees of the Kendal-based business have been made redundant, and administrators are now looking to sell the business and its assets.

Founded in 1986, the company supplied Christmas and sponge puddings to private-label, foodservice and wholesale customers. It had also expanded its product range to include rum and brandy butters, dessert sauces and chutneys.

Its customers included Fortnum & Mason. The business made sponge puddings for the retailer in Christmas 2012, followed by an Easter pudding and a rose petal pudding for the summer. According to the company’s website, it has produced Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas puddings since 2013, including the retailer’s Magnificent Christmas Pudding, which had a melting heart of gold-flecked brandy butter.

Administrator Begbies Traynor, which was appointed on 5 February, described Ultimate as “an established, well recognised and highly regarded food manufacturer, which has unfortunately ceased to trade due to a number of issues”.

 “Action has been taken to minimise the impact of the administration on customers and to seek interested parties that may want to continue with this highly respected business,” said joint administrator Dean Watson.

“This course of action should assist in maximising the returns to creditors by allowing increased asset realisations.”

Begbies Traynor said it was currently marketing the business and assets for sale and that any interested parties should get in touch.