Fifth Town Cheese in receivership

The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company is in receivership with papers signed by BDO Canada Tuesday, May 15.
“The doors are closed,” said Christine Legein, interim president. “Hopefully it will get sold and whoever will hire back the good people who worked there. I’m effectively no longer there since the receiver has taken over, but I enjoyed my time. It was a great product, great brand and there are so many good people – the people, the farmers and the customers.”
BDO Canada became the receiver May 7, taking possession and control of the property. The intended plan of the receiver is “to offer for sale the assets of the company with the land of a related company.”
Legein, was appointed interim president in August 2011, after founder Petra Kassun-Mutch stepped down from her role as president, but remained a shareholder in the company.
Legein said there are many regulations in regard to the transfer and sale of food and the receivers will be looking after the remaining stock at the factory.
She notes that just before closing, a large order of Fifth Town cheese was shipped to sales partner David Smythe, to be available at farmers’ markets in Toronto, Peterborough, Kingston and Port Hope and that possibly, some stock may still be available at Sobey’s or Cooke’s Fine Foods in Picton.
“The business had its difficulties, but it was a highly regarded product. I was so busy with the place that now I feel like I’m in withdrawal. I am keeping in touch with many of the people.”

Fifth Town was Canada’s only Platinum LEED manufacturing facility and the only Platinum LEED dairy in the world.  It has also received many awards for a variety of initiatives including sustainable enterprise management, marketing, innovation, and architecture. Fifth Town is Canada’s 8th B Corporation and achieved highest score at time of certification.

Kassun-Mutch designed the company from the outset as a social purpose enterprise with governing values focused on leadership in sustainable enterprise management, local community contributions, and the triple bottom line. Approximately 93 per cent of the money spent to make, market and distribute its products stayed in the community.

Kassun-Mutch continues supporting the development of the social enterprise sector in Canada through her new company The Zugunruhe Project. Visit her website www.zugunruhe.ca