The Jones Food Company, the operator of the UK’s largest vertical farms, has entered administration following an unsuccessful attempt to secure new investment. The collapse resulted in the closure of its operations on 7 April and the redundancy of 61 employees.
The company operated two large-scale indoor farms in Scunthorpe and Gloucestershire, the latter housing its most advanced site, which only opened in 2023. These high-tech facilities used LED lighting and controlled environments to produce salad crops and herbs at accelerated rates compared to traditional farming.
Despite backing from major online grocer Ocado, which held a substantial stake, no additional funding was provided. Administrators confirmed that attempts to attract new investors failed, leading to the company’s insolvency.
