Young’s factory closure puts 450 jobs at risk
The seafood firm revealed plans to exit deli and meals production from its Pinneys site, as this was no longer financially sustainable. The remaining natural salmon production at the site will be moved to Young’s Humberstone Road, Grimsby site.
Young’s is to commence a formal consultation with staff and their representatives at the Pinneys site, following the election of employee representatives to discuss and consider options.
Recruitment for 200 roles
However, moving salmon production from Annan to Grimsby would necessitate recruitment for 200 roles, said Young’s. Additionally, the manufacturer would recruit up to 50 roles at its Annan Scampi factory to support growth.
If these proposals go ahead, employees at Young’s Pinneys will be provided with information regarding these new roles and will be given preference over new recruitment, according to the firm.
Chief executive Bill Showalter said: “Today’s proposals 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.”
Three significant contracts
Young’s also announced that it had signed three significant contracts with M&S, which would see the company supply the retailer with chilled and frozen coated fish, natural salmon and white fish from 2018 to 2023.
The contract win comes less than a week after 2 Sisters entered into consultation with colleagues and customers at its “loss-making” fish processing business Five Star Fish. The seafood processor previously supplied coated fish products to M&S.
2 Sisters said the fish firm had undertaken a full strategic review of its business and concluded that the operation was not sustainable in its current form for the long-term, potentially putting up to 400 jobs at the Grimsby site at risk.
