450 jobs face axe at Scottish fish factory
A fish factory in Annan in southern Scotland looks likely to close with the loss of 450 jobs.
Grimsby-based Young’s Seafood announced that it has chosen to end deli and meals production from its Pinneys site in Annan, as it is no longer financially sustainable.
Young’s announced the decision on the same day that it revealed it has signed three new deals to supply Marks & Spencer with chilled and frozen coated fish, natural salmon and white fish from 2018 to 2023.
Following a review of its UK operations, Young’s proposes to move the remaining natural salmon production undertaken at the Pinneys site to its existing natural salmon facility in Grimsby and close the Pinneys site.
The company will commence a formal consultation with staff and their representatives at Pinneys to discuss and consider options.
The company said it will work closely with employee representatives and other appropriate organisations to ensure that it has "a meaningful consultation before any decisions are made and that colleagues at Young’s Pinneys have all the information and support they need".
Young’s Seafood chief executive Bill Showalter said: “Today’s proposal to close our Young’s Pinneys site does not reflect on the committed and skilled teams at Young’s Pinneys – they are a credit to our company and if these proposals do go ahead we will work hard to maintain the employment of all colleagues throughout this transition.
“We have a long history of seafood production in Annan and whatever the outcome of the consultation we will continue to be a part of the community, given our other factory site within the town.”
Young’s also has a scampi factory in Annan and intends to recruit up to 50 new staff there.
