More than 40 jobs have been lost after a UK food company entered administration. King Foods, which was founded in 1994, had experienced “adverse trading for a number of years”, according to administrators appointed on Thursday.

Foodstore Ltd traded as King Foods, supplying frozen foods, fresh fish products, dry goods, and fresh and frozen meat to hotel and retail catering businesses. The Aberdeen-based company’s customers were mainly across the north-east of Scotland, Stirling and Edinburgh. Administrators Interpath said that with no prospect of trade resuming, the company’s 41 members of staff had been made redundant.

It said the company's directors decided to cease trading in mid-February after losses and cash flow pressure.

After this, steps were taken to file for the appointment of administrators, Interpath added in a statement.

Geoff Jacobs, managing director at Interpath and joint administrators, said: “Significant headwinds continue to impact companies operating up and down the food and drink supply chain, including rising costs which place pressure on margins.

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

“This is resulting in many business owners seeking support and assessing options which we would encourage them to do proactively.

“We will now commence the process of marketing the Company’s business and assets, including its fitted cold storage facility in Aberdeen, its vehicle fleet and other properties.”

Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, added: “As a priority, we will be extending support to King Foods’ employees who have sadly been impacted by redundancy.”

According to its website, King Foods was a family-run business.

It said on its website: “King Foods was founded in February 1994. The aim of the company was simple, to provide a quality frozen product at a fair price in an express manner.

“Our service, quality and competitive pricing is something we pride ourselves on and as the company has grown over the years something our customers have come to expect.

“As a family run business, we have continued to evolve to meet our customer’s needs. We now have a dry goods warehouse, fish house and most recently a butchery division.”