Vegan food company VBites Food Ltd ran by North East entrepreneur Heather Mills has announced it has gone into administration, putting hundreds of jobs in the region at risk.

The Washington-born businesswoman and former wife of Beatles member Paul McCartney launched the company in 1993, producing meat and dairy-free alternatives ever since.

However, just five years after the business moved into the former Walkers factory on Stephenson Road in Peterlee, those employed at the site are now facing an uncertain future.

The Northern Echo: Heather Mills.Heather Mills. (Image: PA)

Ms Mills released a statement on social media confirming the news, emphasising the “blood, sweat and tears” that went into the business.

She wrote: “With great regret, I am sorry to announce that after 30 years of pioneering plant-based production and innovation in the meat-free, fish-free and dairy-free sectors, VBites Foods Ltd, a company very dear to my heart, is entering into administration this week.

“This is extremely distressing for me on a personal level but also for my wonderfully loyal and hard-working staff.

“My team and I have undertaken 30 years of product creation and evolution as well as personally investing tens of millions of pounds into the business and offering every solution I feasibly could to keep it going, but sadly mine and my staff’s efforts have been thwarted by a demand that I stepped away from day to day management, in order to secure essential investment and a combination of corporate greed and poor management, the cost of living crisis, price rises in the global ingredients and utilities markets and the current state of the manufacturing economy in Britain.”

She then went on to discuss the impact of Brexit on her business, stating the move has been an “utter disaster” as well as calling out larger companies’ “corporate greed”.

The Northern Echo: VBites site, Peterlee.VBites site, Peterlee. (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

Recommended:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus Digital Subscription for as little as £1.50 a week. Click here.

She added: “As you can most likely tell this is a passionate topic for me and I am hopeful that as a unified force we can turn things around - and hopefully before it is too late.

“And my last words are to the loyal VBites staff. Thank you for the years of unwavering effort, thank you for the belief and I hope that you can take some solace from knowing that you have had a huge positive impact on the world through the work that you have done over the last 30 years.”

Following the news, administrators at Interpath Advisory have stated the Peterlee site will continue to trade as normal whilst a buyer is sought after.

VBites Food Ltd has been approached for comment.