Tossed bought out of administration by management
Healthy eating brand Tossed has been acquired out of administration by Neil Sebba and Angelina Harrisson, previously managing director and commercial director of Zest Food, respectively.
Zest Food, which operated the Tossed and Vital Ingredient brands, was placed into administration and all staff were made redundant following an unsuccessful trial reopening period in June where walk-in sales were heavily impacted due to Covid-19.
The pair's new company, BNW Food (BNW), has made arrangements to acquire at least six of the premises previously traded by Zest from administrators Quantuma.
A soft launch is being planned at the Clerkenwell store next week, and further stores are expected to open in the coming weeks, including a delivery kitchen at Foodstars Battersea. BNW is in discussions to secure several more stores and expects to create at least 50 new jobs in central London by the end of September.
Sebba said: "The last six months have been impossible for food service in London, and to see Zest go into administration in July was extremely difficult for everyone concerned.
"Angelina and I are delighted to be given the opportunity to save this wonderful brand, and hope to create at least 50 new jobs in the coming weeks. We are thrilled that Londoners will still be able to get their Tossed fix, either in person, when they return to their offices, or on delivery.
"No doubt the winter trading in London will remain extremely difficult as the Covid-19 situation unfolds, but we are working with a group of landlords and an administrator who have approached this crisis collaboratively. This is refreshing, and speaks volumes for the strength of our brand and our plans for its reopening and beyond."
Simon Bonney, managing director at Quantuma, added: "With such a tough trading environment in London, it's great to have delivered a successful outcome in conjunction with a strong management team, and to have secured a future for the brand in these difficult times."
Brasier Freeth and Edwin Coe are advising BNW.
Photo: Shutterstock
