Young’s Seafood to consult staff on proposed closure of two plants

Young’s Seafood Limited has announced its intention to start formal consultation shortly with staff and their representatives at the Young’s Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites to explore proposals and possible options for the facilities.

This follows the recent news that Young’s had not retained the fresh salmon and smoked salmon processing contracts with Sainsbury’s and that those contracts will be transferring to an alternative supplier in November 2015.

The transfer of the Sainsbury’s business will leave the Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites significantly under-utilized. Since the Sainsbury’s decision, Young’s Seafood Limited has been considering several options and is proposing the future integration and servicing of the remaining customer contracts and volumes presently processed at Young’s Fraserburgh and Spey Valley into Young’s Seafood Limited’s other manufacturing sites in Grimsby, Livingston and Annan. Young’s Seafood Limited believes that this proposal delivers a significantly more sustainable manufacturing footprint than other potential consolidation options.

Young’s Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites will likely close with the loss of 900 jobs if the proposal is implemented

If, following consultation, this proposal is implemented, it is likely to result in the future closure of the Young’s Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites in or after November and the loss of more than 900 jobs. The proposal could also result in the transfer and/or creation of approximately 200 jobs across Young’s Seafood Limited’s sites in Grimsby, Livingston and Annan.

Pete Ward, Chief Executive of Young’s Seafood Limited, said, “Today’s announcement does not reflect on the skilled teams at Young’s Fraserburgh and Spey Valley, who are committed, dedicated and continue to work hard through this time. This process will not be easy, but we have to face some tough decisions and we believe the proposals, outlined today, could deliver a significantly more sustainable manufacturing footprint than other potential consolidation options. As we move forward, we continue to be focussed on providing our customers and consumers with high quality, good value, fish and seafood and we will talk, in detail, with employees about options for the future.”