A HEALTHY noodles business whose founder died last year has ceased trading and gone into administration.

Joint administrators for Mr Lee’s Pure Foods – which makes Mr Lee’s Noodles – say they are looking for a buyer for the business and its assets.

The Bournemouth-based business was started by Damien Lee, who died last year aged 54, after several experiences with cancer.

He launched his brand of instant noodles in 2016, intending them to be a healthy option in a market that was selling 100billion meals a year.

Jimmy Saunders and Rob Armstrong, both of the firm Kroll, were appointed joint administrators of Mr Lee’s Pure Foods Co Limited on May 13.

A statement for the joint administrators said: “The company, based in Bournemouth, is an award-winning brand of gourmet instant noodles, porridges, and other foods. Its three product ranges; Mr Lee’s Noodles (includes Rice Noodles and Ramen), Mr Lee’s Porridges and Mr Lee’s Congee; are all made with the finest freeze-dried ingredients, low in sugar and saturated fats and with no artificial additives.”

Jimmy Saunders said: “At this stage the company has ceased trading and is under the control of the joint administrators whilst the financial position and prospects are examined, and we continue to look for a buyer of the business and assets.

“All creditors will be notified of the appointment in the coming days.”

Mr Lee’s was based in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, and employed 12 people as of last year.

Accounts for 2021 showed its total liabilities outstripped its assets by £679,348.

It had £2.4million in amounts due to creditors within a year, including £1.22m in loans convertible into shares, accounts showed.

Damien Lee, originally from Sydney, Australia, devised Mr Lee’s Noodles after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of Hodgkin lymphoma.

“I’m immensely proud to say we’re a Bournemouth brand,” he said in 2016.

His cancer was in remission when the brand was launched but he was later diagnosed with an unrelated cancer.

In his final months, he launched a podcast, Life Is… With Damien Lee, whose guests included Hollywood star Wesley Snipes, actress Claire Holt and WWE wrestlers the Bella Twins.