New Zealand-based foodservice supplier Libelle Group has gone into liquidation.
Robert Campbell and David Webb of Deloitte New Zealand have been appointed as liquidators of the failed business, the financial advisory firm revealed in a statement today (11 March).
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Local media reports, unconfirmed by Deloitte in its statement, said more than 500 employees are impacted by the move.
Auckland-based Libelle is best known for providing school lunches. It is contracted by Compass Group New Zealand to deliver approximately 125,000 meals daily as part of the government’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme.
The liquidators said they have engaged with Compass to support continuity of service.
Webb said: “The liquidators are undertaking a full and urgent review of all of Libelle’s operations, with our immediate focus being working with Libelle’s employees and affected stakeholders to ascertain the way forward, including ensuring students around New Zealand continue to receive their school lunches.”
Webb told the New Zealand Herald newspaper that the directors of Libelle Group, which has been in business for more than 20 years, had concerns about the solvency of the business, which is why the company’s shareholders appointed liquidators.
The newspaper reported that Compass Group has told the government that it will assume operations during this transition and take responsibility for providing meals every school day.
