A MAJOR food supplier that will end its operations in the Island later this month has revealed the “devastating” situation is the result of “specific operating conditions” affecting its Jersey division alone.
Nigel Holliday, the managing director of Cimandis Foodservice, said the wholesale distributor’s decision to cease trading in Jersey at the end of July “was incredibly tough”.
The announcement, which was made earlier this week, cited “increasingly challenging trading conditions”, including “significant” hikes in rent and shipping costs.
The Chamber of Commerce has stated that it was “deeply saddened” by the news, while the Jersey Hospitality Association warned that the closure was indicative of the “escalating pressures” facing local businesses.
Responding to questions from the JEP’s sister publication, Bailiwick Express, Mr Holliday said that that “each island is different” and that the business was “currently optimistic about our performance in Guernsey”, where it hoped to continue trading “for the foreseeable future”.
Commenting on whether any of the affected staff would be offered roles in Guernsey, he added that “all possible options are being considered”.
“We are doing everything that we can to safeguard Cimandis and hope that we will be able to continue trading in Guernsey for the foreseeable future,” Mr Holliday said.
“However, in the current economic climate, prices and trading conditions are changing all the time.
“The devastating situation in Jersey is the result of specific operating conditions affecting our division in Jersey alone.”
