Fresca Group-owned Liverpool Produce Terminal has ceased trading following the suspension of services last month.

In a statement, Fresca attributed the closure to “external financial pressures affecting shippers and customers alike,”.

It had conducted a month-long consultation exploring possible options, but none were considered commercially viable, it added.

In its August annual report, Fresca admitted that things were tough at LPT but said that given more stability and volume, the purchase of the site was the correct choice for the group. The company had invested in LPT to add packing facilities and to amend its layout.

The closure will result in 42 redundancies but “many” had been made alternative offers of employment from Fresca Group companies and elsewhere, Fresca added.