A UK food company, which has been in the business since 1994, has collapsed into administration, with all 40 jobs lost. Aberdeen-based Foodstore Limited, trading as King Foods has been struggling with the financial crisis over a number of years.

The company owes more than £1m to banks and £1m to creditors across a range of businesses across Scotland, according to documents seen by The Herald. Last month, Alistair McAlinden and Geoff Jacobs from Interpath were appointed joint administrators of the company. The administrators said: "Incorporated in 1994, the company traded as King Foods from premises in Aberdeen, supplying a range of food products to hotel and retail catering outlets primarily across the north east of Scotland, Stirling and Edinburgh.

"The company had experienced adverse trading for a number of years due to increased competition and cost price inflation, exacerbated by the well-documented challenges faced by its customers, hospitality and catering companies across the country.

"Given the financial position, the company ceased to trade."

The administrators said that after their appointment, the company's 40 employees were formally made redundant, with immediate effect.

They said: "We took the necessary steps to safeguard the company's assets. An accelerated sale of business process was run.

"We entered into discussions with the two parties that had submitted offers which included all or certain of the commercial properties. Unfortunately, neither were executable."

The administrators are "now in the process of instructing Shepherds to market the commercial properties for sale and GMG to deal with the physical assets".

They said: "Furthermore, a residential property estate agent will be instructed to sell the company's residential property.

"The company's debtor ledger is subject to an invoice financing agreement with LBCF. LBCF have instructed debt collection agents to ingather the ledger, however, it is not anticipated that they will recover their debt in full."

The company reported trading losses of £289,000 in the 2024 financial year and £259,000 in 2025. Its creditors included Aberdeen City Council, owed £14,383; Bannerman Seafoods, owed £12,450; Porrelli and Co of Paisley, owed £15,005; and Johnston Oils of Ellon, owed £10,966.