Calls for AUSVEG chair to step down

Australian vegetable growers are calling for John Brent to step down from his position as AUSVEG chairman after he was accused of insolvent trading. Brent’s company, Bunny Bite Foods, entered voluntary administration in June and creditors voted to liquidate the company on 15 July.

According to ABC Rural News, the administrator, Robson Cotter Insolvency Group, told creditors they may be able to make a claim against Bunny Bite Foods’ directors for insolvent trading. According to a report from Robson Cotter, Bunny Bite had been borrowing to maintain its operations for at least two years and had traded and accrued additional debts while insolvent.

Andrew Moon, Chairman of Onions Australia, told ABC Rural Radio that Brent should step aside from the chairman position “at least until the whole story’s out”.

The company has reportedly been sold to VegPro 4, a Queensland-based food processing company. Despite the sale, more than $5 million is still owed to creditors, according to Fairfax Media publication The Land.