A fresh fruit distribution company, which traded for more than 20 years, has gone into adminstration.

Coolfruit, which operated in Sellindge, between Ashford and Hythe, blamed the current economic situation for its collapse. It employed around 30 staff.

Formed in 2000, the company had “successfully traded for many years”, according to administrators called in to first try and rescue the company when it ran into difficulties last month, but are now in the process of selling its assets on a “piecemeal basis”.

Based in Otterpool Quarry – opposite the Airport Cafe on the A20 – the haulage company operated refrigerated lorries to transport fresh fruit across the UK.

But rising overheads and “operational difficulties” led it to struggle during the early months of the year.

It was exacerbated by the loss of its operator licence – a legal requirement to be allowed to operate heavy goods vehicles.

In April it called in business survival firm SFP to conduct a review of its operation in a desperate bid to turn around its fortunes.

But it became clear saving the business was “not viable”.

As a consequence, SFP started winding down the business and is now in the process of selling the company’s assets in order to compensate creditors.

It comes amid mounting pressure for haulage firms which have faced soaring costs and reduced consumer spending due to the economic situation.

David Kemp and Richard Hunt of SFP have been appointed joint administrators of Coolfruit.

Mr Kemp said: “Coolfruit seems to have once been a robust and successful trading business, however, problems accumulated and administration ultimately became the only realistic way forward for the company.

“With more and more companies being confronted with financial difficulties in the current economic climate, we urge directors to make themselves aware of the options available to them.

“For companies at risk of insolvency, the most important step they can take is to seek professional guidance at the earliest opportunity to secure the best result for the company and its employees.”