A well-known artisan food producer in North Wales has gone into liquidation. This marks the end of an era for Patchwork Foods, a business that began as a kitchen table venture. Patchwork Foods, based in Ruthin, was founded over four decades ago 1982 by Margaret Carter. The idea came to fruition when she started selling pâté from her home kitchen. Over time, the brand gained national recognition for its high-quality pâtés. Their speciality food products built it into a thriving enterprise.

With the help of her son Rufus and business partner Jen Whitham, Carter grew the company into a £2 million business. The food business also scooped up numerous awards along the way. However, in May 2024, the trio stepped down as directors. The business was taken over by Davies Enterprise Holdings Ltd. It passed on to Scott Davies, who also heads Hilltop Honey, one of the UK’s largest honey producers.

Despite efforts to revive the struggling company, including months of personal financial support from Mr. Davies, the business has now been placed into liquidation. Davies said the company had been in a precarious financial state when he took it on, and even with a year of hard effort from the team, it was no longer viable to continue operations.

The closure has resulted in job losses locally, and the news has come as a significant blow to the food and drink community in North Wales. Patchwork Foods had become a household name in the counties nearby. Its products were stocked in independent retailers across the UK and widely appreciated for their artisan quality and Welsh roots.

The company’s collapse adds to a growing list of small, independent food producers struggling under the weight of inflation, rising energy costs, and changing consumer habits. Patchwork’s closure is both a local economic hit and the end of a cherished Welsh food legacy.