Yeomans and Haskell kitchen manufacturer at Salisbury South shuts after 44 years’ in business leaving customers and staff out of pocket

Builders owe collapsed kitchen manufacturer Yeomans & Haskell more than $100,000, according to its devastated founding director.

Failure of builders to pay for work has been cited as a factor in kitchen maker Yeomans and Haskell closing its doors after 44 years. Picture: Dave Kirner CFMMEU

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Builders have failed to pay kitchen manufacturer Yeomans & Haskell more than $100,000, according to its founding director who closed the company he started 44 years ago.

The Salisbury South-based company - known for its slogan “funny name, great kitchens” - has been placed in liquidation with the loss of 13 jobs.

Company director and co-founder Robert Haskell said lack of cash flow was to blame citing poor trading conditions and builders failing to pay for completed work.

“For 44 years in business I’ve got $2900 in the bank - that’s what I’ve got to show for it,” the 68-year-old said.

He said the company had $250,000 of work on the books but that it was owed more than $100,000 by major building clients.

“We were going along so well but then it changed so quickly; when someone stops paying you who owes you a lot of money and if business slows down at the same time, that creates cash flow problems,” he said.

“Things are not going well out there (the economy), it’s very tight, it doesn’t matter what business you are in - everyone is doing it tough.

“It’s a lot tougher than I can remember and we’ve been through good times and bad times and come through it.”

The company has also battled with alleged theft of hundreds of thousands from its business by an accountant.

The accountant, who can not be named for legal reasons, this month pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges of defrauding clients of nearly $3 million.

Mr Haskell said the legal battle to recoup the money had taken a significant toll on his health.

His son and co-director Steven Haskell, said the company’s demise was a “tragedy”.

“We’ve been in business for 44 years and this is the first time we’ve been in anything like this,” he said. “It’s a tragedy because we do beautiful work.”

Robert Haskell said some of his staff had worked for him for nearly 40 years.

He said five have found new jobs. He said about a dozen clients had unfinished kitchens.

“I want to thank everybody for their support and service, we have done the best we can for them that we could,” he said.