125 jobs lost as food supplier in listeria investigation goes into liquidation

A Staffordshire food supplier linked to a fatal listeria outbreak has gone into liquidation just days after being told it could restart production.

The Good Food Chain, based in Stone, said all 125 staff would lose their jobs.

The Food Standards Agency confirmed last week that the company was not the source of the outbreak and, having been eliminated from the multi-agency inquiry, it could now resume production.
It added that “the business has been verified as meeting food safety legislation and as following best practice for manufacturing, cleaning and environmental standards”.

However, with production having been continuously suspended since June 5, the company said the impact on the company “has been too great for the business to remain viable”.

Owner and founder Martyn Corfield said: “I was absolutely devastated to hear that people had died after contracting listeriosis and have been thinking constantly about all those affected and their families over the last few weeks.

“We have been co-operating very closely with the investigating authorities, and while Wednesday’s confirmation that the Good Food Chain was not the source of the outbreak was welcome, it ultimately came too late in the day for us to get the business back on to a sustainable footing.

“I feel desperately sorry for our brilliant and hardworking staff who, through no fault of their own, now find themselves out of work. I would like to thank them for everything they have done for the Good Food Chain, and particularly for their loyalty and patience over the last few weeks.”

GFC employed 125 people. In addition, 40 agency staff were let go at the start of June 2019 when production was suspended.

GFC was founded in 1996 by Corfield.

Eight hospitals in seven NHS Trusts have reported cases of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches and salads eaten by patients.