A stadium catering company best known for supplying savoury pies and match-day food at two well-known football grounds has entered a critical phase of insolvency proceedings and issued a desperate plea as it fights to stay in business. Piglet’s Pantry, a family-run Worthing bakery and catering firm, whose products have been a familiar sight at Brighton and Hove Albion’ and Portsmouth Football Club, has appointed insolvency practitioners after mounting financial pressures and sharply reduced revenues.
Despite the financial difficulties, the company – which provides its iconic pies and sausage rolls throughout Portsmouth FC’s stadium – has insisted it is continuing to trade, most of the staff remain at work and interest from potential buyers is already being received as part of an accelerated mergers and acquisitions process launched earlier this week. Bosses, however, admitted that staff have been asked to continue working without pay and are instead being offered a small daily allowance. A spokesperson said the firm’s “only focus” is protecting jobs and securing a buyer.
“We are insolvent, but we are trying to trade through that,” they said. “We are not in administration. We are still very firmly supplying all of our clients.
“At the moment, we’re in an accelerated mergers and acquisitions process, which was instructed on Monday.”
In a new update, Piglet’s Pantry confirmed it will continue supplying food at the Amex Stadium, with products available for Brighton’s upcoming match against Crystal Palace.
“The pies will be there on Sunday,” the spokesperson said, before issuing a three-word plea to its supporters. “Please buy them, please keep supporting us. That support is directly helping us try to save the business and find a buyer.”
Fans were also reassured that the company’s online shop remains open on a rolling, week-by-week basis, with all orders currently being honoured.
Staff were informed of the situation on Wednesday (February 4) via a letter. It stated that the catering company was relying on matchday revenue from Portsmouth FC’s game on Tuesday night against Ipswich to pay staff. However, following the postponement of the match due to a waterlogged pitch, Piglet’s Pantry announced that staff payment was “now not possible”.
According to The News, one unnamed matchday worker expressed surprise at the announcement, noting that there had been no prior indication that the company was in trouble.
However, many of Pig’s Pantry’s over 70 staff members have chosen to remain at work despite the uncertainty: “Over 90% of our staff are currently working to help trade through this situation,” the spokesperson said. “They believe in Piglet’s and they want to secure its future.” Expressions of interest from potential buyers have already been received, with a deadline of Monday, February 9, for further approaches.