Out with the Aulds and in with the new
A £2m temporary factory is due to open at Aulds Food's Inchinnan site this month, replacing the frozen and chilled desserts unit, which was destroyed by fire five weeks ago.
The 1,800m2 aluminium facility next to the former 9,000m2 factory, which burned down on September 16, will be used for the next 18 months to supply wholesalers and retailers, including Sainsbury, Tesco and Asda, while a permanent replacement is built.
The company said the temporary building, constructed by specialist contractor De Boer, was the quickest way of meeting health and safety and hygiene standards, by providing an air conditioned and temperature-controlled, pressurised environment. It added that no customers had been lost, thanks in part to large stocks of finished product, which minimised disruption to supplies.
Aulds had transferred some production to its main factory in Greenock, a traditional fresh day bakery, and units in Paisley, Clydebank and East Kilbride.
The Clydebank and East Kilbride sites will produce desserts until Christmas, while the Paisley site will continue indefinitely.
About 40% of the Inchinnan work force have already returned to work with the remainder due back on November 14, working two shifts in the run-up to Christmas.
Aulds is Scotland's largest independent bakery and food business, employing 900 people at Inchinnan and Greenock.
