The demise of an award-winning and once thriving food centre has been greeted with sadness but not shock by former workers, suppliers and customers.
Bodnant Welsh Food Centre owners Michael and Caroline McLaren confirmed that a buyer is being sought for the Conwy Valley site.
They will keep the business running for one more month while the search is launched, but have warned that 50 jobs could be at stake if that search is unsuccessful.
The grim news came as no surprise to former members of staff, with many saying the writing has been on the wall for some time
The £6.5m centre, which opened in 2012 with much fanfare by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, made its own artisan cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and butter.
Mark Baravelli of Baravelli's Artisan Chocolatier, in Conwy, was one of the first producers to stock the shop selling both chocolates and chutneys.
He says at first the centre was good to work with, but changed when the first managing director Sandy Boyd left.
"When Sandy was there everything was brilliant, things were going well but when he left things changed very quickly," Mr Baravelli said.
The Baravellis stopped supplying Bodnant in 2015: "As we are a small business we couldn't afford to do business with them, and they started stocking chocolates from South Wales and England, which was a shame when they had award-winning chocolates right on their doorstep."
Cheryl Parry, from Tal-y-Bont, worked at the centre for two years from 2012.
She said: "It's such a shame, when Bodnant Welsh Food Centre first opened, all the staff were really passionate about the place, giving it 110%.
"Sandy Boyd, the then manager, had great ideas but very early on, he left.
"A lot of managers came and went, and there was a large staff turn-over. It's so sad and can only hope a buyer can be found and the business can thrive.
"I am really hoping such beautiful buildings and surroundings won't go to waste."
Another former employee who worked there for three years added: "It had all the right things going for it."
The centre also had many fans, who enjoyed a saunter down the Conwy Valley to visit the cafe and shop.
Hugh Llewellyn, 70, who lives in Deganwy, said: "I'm very sad about it as it was a very pleasant place to go to.
"The place itself is really nicely done, no expense was spared.
"But I was always surprised how many people I know locally who never even went once there, saying it was too expensive.
"How did they know that, if they never went?"
