A defunct sustainable supermarket owed more than £1 million to suppliers and the taxman when it went bust.

Hisbe, which had shops in York Place, Brighton, and Portland Road in Worthing, went into liquidation in February after over a decade of trading.

Owners Ruth Anslow and Jack Simmonds cited the cost-of-living crisis and Covid among some of the pressures on the company.

A statement of affairs, published on Companies House this week, revealed the company only had £5,200 in the bank as of March 1 and owed £1,417,395.77 to 133 creditors.

The document broke down the company’s debts with £295,392.15 owed to trade creditors, £41,379.81 owed to employees plus £10,843.80 in arrears and holiday pay, £9,941.06 to banks and institutions and £903,242.36 to lenders.

The company also had £1,521.81 of outstanding employer pension contributions.

Among the creditors are Brighton and Hove City Council and Adur and Worthing Councils who are listed for unpaid business rates.

It also owed £39,789.78 to HM Revenue and Customs.

Many local suppliers are also listed including Becky’s Brownies, Blackman Bee Farm, Cat Burglar Dough, Flint Owl Bakery, Infinity Foods Co-operative, Jacobs Cakes, Nelly’s Farm Foods, Paws Bakery, Rowdy and Fancy’s Chocolate and South Downs Honey.

Announcing the closure last month, Ms Anslow and Mr Simmonds thanked customers for the “love and concern” they showed to the store, calling the decision to close “very painful”.

A statement on the business’s social media channels said: “We were following a strategic turnaround plan and slowly trading our way back, but ultimately could not weather the cumulative impacts of Covid, inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Right now, we are hurting and exhausted.

“But we are also thankful for this journey – and grateful to every supplier, customer, staff member, investor and supporter who was part of it. Together we created something beautiful and kept it going for ten years, against all the odds.

“We hope that our rebel supermarket sowed a seed of change - and we trust that the important work to transform the food industry will continue through others.”

The document was compiled by Begbies Traynor Central LLP and signed by Ms Anslow.