Aquaculture for all

Job Cuts Look Likely for Youngs Seafood

Sustainability Processing Economics +5 more

UK - Following the loss of its salmon processing contracts with Sainsbury's, which will leave its Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites under-utilized, Young's Seafood said it will start formal consultations shortly with staff and their representatives at the Youngs Fraserburgh and Spey Valley sites to explore proposals and possible options for the facilities.

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Since the Sainsbury’s decision, Young’s Seafood 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 believes that this proposal delivers a significantly more sustainable manufacturing footprint than other potential consolidation options.

For example, consolidating volumes into Grimsby will allow Young’s Seafood Limited to better utilize its existing central resources and capabilities, which are located in the town.

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, from the company's 3,000 person workforce.

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.”

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