According to reports, the company, which supplies its products to the Queen and supermarkets across the UK, is due to close its Pinneys site “by the end of the year as ‘production is no longer financially sustainable’”.
The decision comes following “declining global trade,” with chief executive, Bill Showalter, reassuring staff: “The proposals to close our Young’s Pinneys site does not reflect on the committed and skilled teams there. 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.”
Rumours also claim that Young’s will transfer its salmon processing to a factory in Grimsby - thereby creating 200 jobs in Lincolnshire – while 50 positions may be created at its second Annan-based factory to “meet growing demand” of scampi production.
Speaking of the closure, the Scottish Labour party said it would have a “devastating impact” on Annan should plans go ahead, with Colin Smyth, Labour’s shadow cabinet secretary for rural economy, adding: “This is absolutely devastating news for the Pinneys workforce and their families.
“There are whole families employed at Pinneys which has served the town as a major employer for decades, and this closure will be an utter tragedy for so many people in our area.
“A closure of this scale in such a small community will send shockwaves right across the fragile local economy. It is also a massive blow to the Scottish food and drinks industry.”