Plant-based food manufacturer VBites Foods Ltd is entering administration after 30 years of production.
Heather Mills, owner of VBites, has announced on her website that the plant-based brand is entering administration in December 2023.
VBites was founded in 1993, and manufactures products like vegan paté, vegan cheese and meat alternatives across three factories in the North East of England. It sells its products to catering businesses, supermarkets and hospitality businesses.
In a statement on her website, Mills said: “With great regret, I am sorry to announce that after 30 years of pioneering plant-based production and innovation in the meat-free, fish-free and dairy-free sectors, VBites Foods Ltd, a company very dear to my heart, is entering into administration this week.
“My team and I have undertaken 30 years of product creation and evolution as well as personally investing tens of millions of pounds into the business and offering every solution I feasibly could to keep it going, but sadly mine and my staff’s efforts have been thwarted by a demand that I stepped away from day to day management.
“VBites have been vehemently proud to be able to offer viable, tasty and affordable plant-based food products both direct to consumer and in the wholesale markets for all these years and I cannot thank our loyal customers enough for their unwavering support and engagement with us over the years.”
Mills continued: “The plight of VBites is not an isolated case and I think it’s important to take stock and highlight the various factors that are contributing to the struggles of companies like ours in the current market.
“We also need to work harder to demonstrate the long term profitability of plant-based farming and manufacturing to the meat and dairy industries.”
Addressing the VBites staff, Mills said: “Thank you for the years of unwavering effort, thank you for the belief and I hope that you can take some solace from knowing that you have had a huge positive impact on the world through the work that you have done over the last 30 years.”
