Discussions On Clousure Of Meat Plant At dornoch

21st January 2010

The Highland Council and HIE meet with Aberdeen and Northern Marts to discuss planned closures in Dornoch.

Following the announcement by Aberdeen and Northern Marts of the planned closure in April of the Scotch Premier Meat plant in Dornoch with the loss of 29 jobs, representatives from The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise met with owner Aberdeen and Northern Marts in Inverurie on Tuesday 19 January. This followed an earlier meeting between Highland Councillors and HIE and Council officials with representatives of the Sutherland farming and crofting community to discuss the planned closure.

Present at the meeting in Inverurie were Councillor Ian Ross, chairman of The Highland Council's Planning Environmental and Development Committee, Roy Kirk, HIE Caithness and Sutherland Area Manager and Alan Craig ANM Chief Executive. The meeting was also attended by Calum Macpherson, HIE Moray Area Manager, with regard to the planned closure of the Highland Country Foods plant in Forres, also operated by ANM.

After the meeting, Councillor Ross said: "We had a very open and constructive meeting. Allan Craig explained how difficult market conditions have led the new management team at ANM to conclude that the plants in Dornoch and Forres need to close leaving ANM to concentrate on operations in Inverurie. He also stressed that no final decisions had been made until formal consultation has taken place with staff at the two plants. Importantly Allan Craig confirmed that ANM are willing to discuss options for the future of the Dornoch plant, including sale or lease of the building and equipment to any operator willing to take it on."

Mr Kirk added: "It was a useful meeting. I am glad to hear of ANM's commitment to work with HIE, Skills Development Scotland, Job Centre Plus and The Highland Council to try to help any staff unable to transfer to Inverurie and who are made redundant. It is clear that the market conditions in slaughtering and processing are difficult at the moment. We will be working with the company, colleagues in HIE, the Highland Council and elsewhere to establish the best solutions for the site over the next few weeks. We are willing to enter into a dialogue with any interested parties who may need our support to help develop this important part of the local economy."