Interest in bankrupt potato processor CêlaVíta

There might be a restart in the cards for CêlaVíta, the Dutch potato company that had to file for bankruptcy last week. Several interested parties have already come forward for a possible takeover.

“Cautiously optimistic”

“We are investigating how serious the interest is, but I am cautiously optimistic about the chances“, court-appointed administrator Frans Aartsen told Dutch public broadcaster NOS. The administrator is now looking at all options, including possibly splitting the activities. Whether the interested parties will actually make an offer is still uncertain.

Founded in 1967, CêlaVíta supplied pre-cut and seasoned potato products to supermarkets, restaurants and wholesalers. However, the company was ailing and its bankruptcy did not come as a surprise. “The signs had been visible for some time: an outdated factory, overdue maintenance and a deteriorating market position”, Margreet Pasman of trade union FNV said.

171 employees have been laid off, the factory is closed and stocks have been depleted. Supermarket chains like Jumbo and Albert Heijn are having to switch to alternatives, such as private label products.