2 Sisters site closure action group stalls

A letter from the Scottish Government’s business minister Paul Wheelhouse, first published in the Scottish Daily Record​, questioned if the group would add any value to the situation. It said: “It is clear that such is the momentum and degree of local coordination of the response to date that formation of a new structure of an Action Group may not add value, given the extensive work already happening at a local level​.”

Wheelhouse did add that he would hosting a roundtable later this month (May) to “keep all stakeholders fully informed about the work under way and to explore all possible job opportunities for the affected Cambuslang staff and to discuss future usage of the site”​.

The site’s closure was confirmed in April, with the business citing poor returns on investment at the facility.

A 2 Sisters Food Group spokesperson said: “This is not a decision we take lightly. Since day one, we have been very open on the big challenges the factory faces. In fact we have been trying extremely hard to reverse the position for a considerable period of time. We have invested several million pounds since 2014 and expanded by taking on more people, yet it is still a heavily loss-making operation​.

“We have tried every turnaround option available to us for several years, ranging from cost reduction measures and an attempt to grow the business organically. It has made little difference. And, after many hours of talks in recent weeks, we have not seen any credible proposal to change our view​.

“Work at the facility is expected to end in August and we will now explore all options in the gradual movement of product to other sites. We will continue to support all our colleagues with all the redeployment options available to us, whether inside or outside the business​.”

2 Sisters did not rule out future investment in the country. “We will, of course, continue to invest in Scotland when the timing is right, as evidenced by our recent announcement to expand operations at our Coupar Angus site and create 250 new jobs​.”