Dudfields set to enter liquidation

Edward Dudfield appears to have closed its doors and is poised to go into liquidation with a creditor shortfall in excess of £900,000 after more than 70 years of trading.

The Hainault, Ilford-based commercial and wide-format printing operation notified creditors of its intention to prepare a statement of affairs in a letter sent out on 20 February.

A meeting has been scheduled for the morning of 4 March, when decisions will be made on the nomination of a liquidator. Surrey-based insolvency practice Turpin Barker Armstrong is assisting Edward Dudfield with the convening of the meeting, expected to be conducted online.

In documents seen by PrintWeek, Turpin Barker Armstrong identified 101 creditors, owed a total of £923,882.58 from Edward Dudfield, which traded as Dudfields.

Among the list of creditors are company directors Julie Turnbull, owed £118,000, and Mark Goulding, due £56,521, and company secretary Jill Shaw who is owed £25,647.

While PrintWeek understands that the 17-staff business has ceased trading, its status is not clear. The website is no longer available and calls to its main phone line go unanswered.

Turpin Barker Armstrong declined to comment when approached and Edward Dudfield management could not be reached.

A company spokesperson had previously told PrintWeek that the company was struggling earlier in the year, though at that time it was still trading.

Its most recent abbreviated accounts to 31 March 2018, which were filed in December, featured a going concern note that highlighted a balance sheet deficiency in net current assets of £330,108.

The company was founded in October 1948.