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Registration number: 03878960

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Contents

Company Information

1

Strategic Report

2 to 3

Directors' Report

4 to 5

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

6

Independent Auditor's Report

7 to 9

Profit and Loss Account

10

Statement of Comprehensive Income

11

Statement of Financial Position

12

Statement of Changes in Equity

13

Statement of Cash Flows

14

Notes to the Financial Statements

15 to 24

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Company Information

Directors

T J Edwards

D R Powell

K C Mortimer

F P Palmer

Company secretary

D R Powell

Registered office

Lowerfields Farm
Bystone Lane
Coate
Devizes
SN10 3LQ

Auditors

Sansum & Co Limited 1 Meadow View High Street
Burbage
Marlborough
SN8 3AF

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Principal activity

The principal activity of the company is is the supply of fresh, dried and frozen foods to both retail customers and various catering outlets.

Fair review of the business

In what can only be described as a transitional year, the Directors are happy with these results. With a significant Director retiring and the previous MD now in a non exec role this year has seen major restructuring of our management team. Now in the third and final year of our MBO the balance sheet remains robust providing a stable platform for a strong business.

Turnover year on year has reduced by 2.8% from £10.87m to £10.57m. Gross margins have remained stable with a small increase from 30.3% to 30.6%. Profit after tax has reduced 31.4% from £371k to £255k.

In the challenging trading conditions the director's anticipate maintaining turnover and profits in 2025.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The company has established risk review procedures to evaluate the company's risk appetite. The principle risks
and uncertainties facing the company are broadly grouped as - economic, price, competitive and financial risk.

Economic Risks
The business is exposed to wider economic fluctuations that influence both consumer demand and supplier costs. Inflationary pressures raise the price of raw materials, transport, and packaging, directly affecting margins. Economic downturns typically reduce restaurant, hospitality, and retail demand, causing volatility in sales volumes. Currency fluctuations also represent a risk, as imported products may become more expensive, squeezing profitability and complicating pricing strategy.

Price risks
The food industry is particularly sensitive to price movements due to the perishable nature of goods and thin profit margins. Shifts in commodity prices, such as grain, meat, and dairy, can quickly cascade through the supply chain. Sudden supplier price hikes, driven by weather, logistics bottlenecks, or geopolitical tensions, may limit the ability to pass costs on to customers without eroding competitiveness. Maintaining price stability while preserving margin is a continual challenge.

Competitive Risks
The market is highly competitive, with pressure from large-scale wholesalers, vertically integrated retailers, and discount importers. Larger competitors often leverage economies of scale, advanced logistics, and aggressive pricing strategies that smaller operators may struggle to match. Additionally, customer loyalty in the wholesale food sector can be fragile, with buyers readily switching suppliers for better prices or improved delivery terms. Differentiation through service quality, reliability, and niche product offerings is essential to mitigate this risk.

Financial Risks
As a medium-sized wholesaler, the business faces financial risks associated with working capital management, credit exposure, and debt servicing. The reliance on extending trade credit to customers creates potential cash flow constraints if payments are delayed or defaulted. Rising interest rates increase borrowing costs, particularly if the business relies on short-term credit facilities to fund inventory. Maintaining adequate liquidity and prudent financial controls is critical to safeguarding operational stability and funding future growth.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 30 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

.........................................
D R Powell
Company secretary and director

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Directors of the company

The directors who held office during the year were as follows:

T J Edwards

D R Powell - Company secretary and director

K Mortimer (ceased 31 March 2024)

K C Mortimer

F P Palmer (appointed 1 January 2024)

J A Edwards (ceased 29 February 2024)

Financial instruments

Objectives and policies

The company has established a risk and financial management framework whose primary objectives are to
protect the company from events that hinder the achievement of the company's performance objectives.

Price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk

Price risk arises on financial instruments because of changes in, for example commodity prices or equity
prices. Given that the company is privately owned and is funded entirely from its own reserves and small loans and does not hold investments, the company is not exposed to significant financial instrument price fluctuations.

Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for that other party by
failing to discharge an obligation. Company policies are aimed at minimising such losses. The company's
policies require appropriate credit checks on potential customers and suppliers before sales or purchases are made. The amount of exposure to any individual counterparty is subject to a limit, which is reviewed periodically.

Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial
liabilities. The company aims to mitigate liquidity risk by managing cash generation by its operations and
applying cash collection targets. Management review is conducted monthly and monitors financial statements,
cash flow and commercial operations.

Cash flow risk is the risk of exposure to variability in cash flows. The company manages this risk through
monthly management reviews of financial statements, cash flow and commercial operations.

Disclosure of information to the auditors

Each director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. The directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 30 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

.........................................
D R Powell
Company secretary and director

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Statement of Comprehensive Income, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Changes in Equity, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

the Strategic Report and Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities [set out on page 6], the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the entity and determined that the most significant are those that relate to employment law, pension regulation, health and safety regulation, general data protection regulation (GDPR), food safety and Hygiene laws and regulations and the Companies Act 2006.

We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements including the potential for management to override controls and determined the principal risks were related to the over statement of revenue, the understatement of expenses, the inappropriate netting of current assets and current liabilities and the misappropriation of stock.

In response to such risks we have performed specific procedures which included:

- Discussions with those charged with governance and other senior management;
- Analytical review of the financial statements;
- Review of key assumptions and judgements made by management with regard to significant accounting estimates;
- Identifying and testing of unusual journal entries throughout the year and around the year end.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one caused by error as fraud may be deliberately concealed through intentional misrepresentation or concealment.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

......................................
M Sansum FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Sansum & Co Limited, Statutory Auditor
 1 Meadow View High Street
Burbage
Marlborough
SN8 3AF

30 September 2025

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Profit and Loss Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Turnover

3

10,567,005

10,866,407

Cost of sales

 

(7,333,572)

(7,573,243)

Gross profit

 

3,233,433

3,293,164

Administrative expenses

 

(2,916,757)

(2,790,490)

Other operating income

4

3,568

2,247

Operating profit

5

320,244

504,921

Interest payable and similar expenses

6

(10,859)

(3,405)

Profit before tax

 

309,385

501,516

Tax on profit

9

(54,818)

(130,623)

Profit for the financial year

 

254,567

370,893

The above results were derived from continuing operations.

The company has no recognised gains or losses for the year other than the results above.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

2024
£

2023
£

Profit for the year

254,567

370,893

Total comprehensive income for the year

254,567

370,893

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

(Registration number: 03878960)
Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2024

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Fixed assets

 

Tangible assets

10

295,713

206,119

Current assets

 

Stocks

11

130,792

162,062

Debtors

12

982,865

1,027,106

Cash at bank and in hand

 

152,913

170,889

 

1,266,570

1,360,057

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

14

(1,066,601)

(924,029)

Net current assets

 

199,969

436,028

Total assets less current liabilities

 

495,682

642,147

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

14

(69,033)

(33,282)

Provisions for liabilities

15

(1,963)

(9,670)

Net assets

 

424,686

599,195

Capital and reserves

 

Called up share capital

16

55

Capital redemption reserve

109

70

Retained earnings

424,561

599,070

Shareholders' funds

 

424,686

599,195

Approved and authorised by the Board on 30 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

.........................................
D R Powell
Company secretary and director

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Share capital
£

Capital redemption reserve
£

Retained earnings
£

Total
£

At 1 January 2024

55

70

599,070

599,195

Profit for the year

-

-

254,567

254,567

Dividends

-

-

(157,406)

(157,406)

Purchase of own share capital

(39)

39

(271,670)

(271,670)

At 31 December 2024

16

109

424,561

424,686

Share capital
£

Capital redemption reserve
£

Retained earnings
£

Total
£

At 1 January 2023

55

70

464,921

465,046

Profit for the year

-

-

370,893

370,893

Dividends

-

-

(236,744)

(236,744)

At 31 December 2023

55

70

599,070

599,195

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit for the year

 

254,567

370,893

Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items

 

Depreciation and amortisation

5

73,695

43,396

Finance costs

6

10,859

3,405

Income tax expense

9

54,818

130,623

 

393,939

548,317

Working capital adjustments

 

Decrease/(increase) in stocks

11

31,268

(14,299)

Decrease/(increase) in trade debtors

12

44,241

(170,080)

Increase in trade creditors

14

178,258

137,047

Cash generated from operations

 

647,706

500,985

Income taxes paid

9

(121,365)

(90,133)

Net cash flow from operating activities

 

526,341

410,852

Cash flows from investing activities

 

Acquisitions of tangible assets

(163,288)

(35,251)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

Interest paid

6

(10,859)

(3,405)

Payments for purchase of own shares

 

(271,670)

-

Proceeds from bank borrowing draw downs

 

(10,024)

(10,012)

Payments to finance lease creditors

 

68,930

(3,050)

Dividends paid

19

(157,406)

(236,744)

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

(381,029)

(253,211)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(17,976)

122,390

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

 

170,889

48,499

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

 

152,913

170,889

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

1

General information

The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in England and Wales.

The address of its registered office is:
Lowerfields Farm
Bystone Lane
Coate
Devizes
SN10 3LQ

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board on 30 September 2025.

2

Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

These financial statements were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006'.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except that as disclosed in the accounting policies certain items are shown at fair value.

Revenue recognition

Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and provision of services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Turnover is shown net of sales/value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts.

The company recognises revenue when:
The amount of revenue can be reliably measured;
it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity;
and specific criteria have been met for each of the company's activities.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in profit or loss, except that a change attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences between taxable profits and profits reported in the financial statements.

Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised when it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class

Depreciation method and rate

Leasehold improvements

5% Straight line

Motor vehicles

25% Straight line

Plant and machinery

25% Straight line

Office equipment

25% Straight line

Amortisation

Asset class

Amortisation method and rate

Goodwill

100% Straight line

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

The cost of finished goods and work in progress comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. At each reporting date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stocks are impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell; the impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the profit and loss account over the period of the relevant borrowing.

Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Leases

Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised at the lower of their fair value at inception of the lease and the present value of the minimum lease payments. These assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the lease term. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation.

Lease payments are apportioned between finance costs in the profit and loss account and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

3

Turnover

The analysis of the company's revenue for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

2024
 £

2023
 £

Sale of goods

10,547,790

10,851,550

Other revenue

19,215

14,857

10,567,005

10,866,407

In the director's opinion geographical analysis would be seriously prejudicial to the the company and therefore this analysis has been omitted.

4

Other operating income

The analysis of the company's other operating income for the year is as follows:

2024
 £

2023
 £

Miscellaneous other operating income

3,568

2,247

5

Operating profit

Arrived at after charging/(crediting)

2024
 £

2023
 £

Depreciation expense

73,695

43,396

6

Interest payable and similar expenses

2024
 £

2023
 £

Interest on bank overdrafts and borrowings

7

398

Interest on obligations under finance leases and hire purchase contracts

10,339

2,239

Interest expense on other finance liabilities

513

768

10,859

3,405

7

Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs (including directors' remuneration) were as follows:

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

2024
 £

2023
 £

Wages and salaries

1,687,318

1,575,985

Social security costs

124,160

109,842

Other short-term employee benefits

5,167

4,339

Pension costs, defined contribution scheme

114,390

151,827

Other employee expense

28,894

38,160

1,959,929

1,880,153

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, analysed by category was as follows:

2024
No.

2023
No.

Administration and support

78

81

78

81

8

Directors' remuneration

The directors' remuneration for the year was as follows:

2024
 £

2023
 £

Remuneration

47,626

45,480

Contributions paid to money purchase schemes

91,666

129,999

139,292

175,479

9

Taxation

Tax charged/(credited) in the profit and loss account

2024
£

2023
£

Current taxation

UK corporation tax

62,524

128,163

Deferred taxation

Arising from write-down or reversal of write-down of deferred tax asset

(7,706)

2,460

Tax expense in the income statement

54,818

130,623

The tax on profit before tax for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2023 - lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 24.97% (2023 - 23.52%).

The differences are reconciled below:

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

2024
£

2023
£

Profit before tax

309,385

501,516

Corporation tax at standard rate

77,250

117,957

Increase in UK and foreign current tax from adjustment for prior periods

1,366

-

Tax (decrease)/increase from effect of capital allowances and depreciation

(22,650)

1,654

Tax (decrease)/increase from other short-term timing differences

(7,707)

2,461

Effect of expense not deductible in determining taxable profit (tax loss)

6,559

8,551

Total tax charge

54,818

130,623

Deferred tax

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

2024

Asset
£

Liability
£

Capital allowances in advance of depreciation

-

1,963

-

1,963

2023

Asset
£

Liability
£

Capital allowances in advance of depreciation

-

9,670

-

9,670

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

10

Tangible assets

Land and buildings
£

Furniture, fittings and equipment
 £

Motor vehicles
 £

Other tangible assets
£

Total
£

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2024

187,585

40,651

166,273

90,128

484,637

Additions

-

17,957

86,856

58,475

163,288

At 31 December 2024

187,585

58,608

253,129

148,603

647,925

Depreciation

At 1 January 2024

52,986

37,811

109,910

77,811

278,518

Charge for the year

9,379

5,065

42,177

17,073

73,694

At 31 December 2024

62,365

42,876

152,087

94,884

352,212

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2024

125,220

15,732

101,042

53,719

295,713

At 31 December 2023

134,599

2,840

56,363

12,317

206,119

Included within the net book value of land and buildings above is £125,220 (2023 - £134,599) in respect of short leasehold land and buildings.
 

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

11

Stocks

2024
 £

2023
 £

Other inventories

130,792

162,062

12

Debtors

Current

2024
£

2023
£

Trade debtors

858,152

869,564

Other debtors

116,272

73,398

Prepayments

5,795

84,144

Accrued income

2,646

-

 

982,865

1,027,106

13

Cash and cash equivalents

2024
 £

2023
 £

Cash on hand

6,117

-

Cash at bank

146,076

170,169

Short-term deposits

720

720

152,913

170,889

14

Creditors

Note

2024
 £

2023
 £

Due within one year

 

Loans and borrowings

18

46,829

23,674

trade creditors

 

747,600

719,006

Amounts due to related parties

166,505

280

Social security and other taxes

 

28,003

35,047

Outstanding defined contribution pension costs

 

4,109

5,455

Other payables

 

(510)

506

Accrued expenses

 

4,743

11,898

Income tax liability

9

69,322

128,163

 

1,066,601

924,029

Due after one year

 

Loans and borrowings

18

69,033

33,282

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

15

Provisions for liabilities

Deferred tax
£

Total
£

At 1 January 2024

9,670

9,670

Increase (decrease) in existing provisions

(7,707)

(7,707)

At 31 December 2024

1,963

1,963

16

Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £114,390 (2023 - £151,827).

Contributions totalling £4,109 (2023 - £5,455) were payable to the scheme at the end of the year and are included in creditors.

17

Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

2024

2023

No.

£

No.

£

Ordinary A Shares of £0.10 each

10

1

337

34

Ordinary B Shares of £0.10 each

10

1

113

11

Ordinary C Shares of £0.10 each

30

3

100

10

Ordinary D Shares of £0.10 each

30

3

-

-

Ordinary E Shares of £0.10 each

60

6

-

-

Ordinary F Shares of £0.10 each

-

-

-

-

Ordinary G Shares of £0.10 (2023 - £0) each

20

2

-

-

160

16

550

55

18

Loans and borrowings

2024
 £

2023
 £

Non-current loans and borrowings

Bank borrowings

5,867

15,891

HP and finance lease liabilities

63,166

17,391

69,033

33,282

 

The Heritage Fine Food Company Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

2024
 £

2023
 £

Current loans and borrowings

Bank borrowings

10,000

10,000

HP and finance lease liabilities

36,829

13,674

46,829

23,674

19

Dividends

Interim dividends paid

2024
£

2023
£

Interim dividend of £1,008.66 (2023 - £331.74) per each Ordinary A Shares

33,291

111,796

Interim dividend of £747.77 (2023 - £332.74) per each Ordinary B Shares

21,665

37,600

Interim dividend of £404.75 (2023 - £873.48) per each Ordinary C Shares

28,250

87,348

Interim dividend of £371.25 (2023 - £Nil) per each Ordinary D Shares

14,850

-

Interim dividend of £328.13 (2023 - £Nil) per each Ordinary E Shares

26,250

-

Interim dividend of £Nil per each Ordinary F Shares

-

-

Interim dividend of £1,655.00 (2023 - £Nil) per each Ordinary G Shares

33,100

-

157,405

236,744

20

Off-balance sheet arrangements

Financial Commitments
The total amount of financial commitments not included in the statement of financial position is £208,425 (2023 - £128,225 ).