The Sussex-based group was set up from a haulage business more than 20 years ago and now operates a hard rock quarry in Cornwall and several aggregate and concrete outlets in Sussex and Hampshire.

During the last few years Dudman’s expanded its cement importing business to give it national reach taking turnover past £30m and staff numbers to around 140.

The firm imports from terminals at Shoreham, Howden in East Yorkshire, Lowestoft in Suffolk, Garston on Merseyside and Montrose in Scotland, opened just four months ago.

James Stares of Grant Thornton, joint administrator of the Dudman Group: “The construction industry continues to be affected by the tough economic climate and this has been the case with the Dudman Group, which entered administration after cash flow pressures led to financial difficulty.

“We are currently reviewing the business and identifying what the best option is. We would not be able to speculate as to whether or not there will be redundancies until that review is complete.”