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285 jobs at risk as Young’s Grimsby factory no longer ‘financially sustainable’
285 jobs are at risk after the announcement that a Young’s Seafood factory in Grimsby may close later this year.
The site, on Marsden Road, is predominantly used to produce the company’s whitefish products with plans to move what’s left of the factory to Humberstone Road, Grimsby, and Fraserburgh, Scotland. Sofina Foods Europe, which owns Young’s, announced the news today (Wednesday), with a possible closure planned for October this year.
They stated that the remaining contracts at the site are no longer ‘financially sustainable’. A consultation period will now be carried out with staff as soon as is practicable.
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A number of new roles will be created at the Humberstone Road and Fraserburgh site to support the transfer and the company will look to offer affected employees alternative jobs within the business. The company emphasised their staff’s hard work, saying they are a ‘credit’ to the company.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Following changes in future demands for products produced at our Marsden Road site, the Company has explored a number of options to try and maintain production at the site from October 2023. It is with regret that we have been unable to find any viable solutions and therefore today are announcing the proposal to move the remaining whitefish processing undertaken at the Marsden Road site to the Humberstone Road site in Grimsby and the smoked processing to their Fraserburgh site in Scotland.
“As a result of these proposed changes, Sofina Foods Europe is sadly proposing to cease production at the Marsden Road site in Grimsby from October 2023. We have taken this decision as producing the remaining whitefish contracts at Marsden Road would no longer be financially sustainable.”
They added: “Sofina Foods Europe will now commence a formal consultation with staff and their representatives at the Marsden Road site as soon as practicable (following the election of employee representatives) to discuss and consider options. During the coming months, we will work closely with our employees, and any other appropriate organisation, to ensure that there is meaningful consultation before any decisions are made and that colleagues at Marsden Road have all the information and support they may need.
“The proposed site closure would potentially result in the loss of 285 roles from the Marsden Road site between September and October 2023. A number of new roles will be created at the Humberstone Road and Fraserburgh sites to support the transfer and the Company will do all it can to offer alternative opportunities across the group where possible to those affected by these proposals.
“Today’s proposals to cease production at the Marsden Road site does not reflect on the committed and skilled teams who work there – they are a credit to the Company. If the proposals go ahead, we will work hard to maintain the employment of all colleagues throughout this transition.
“Sofina Foods Europe has a long history of seafood production in Grimsby and whatever the outcome of the consultation we will continue to be a part of the community, given our other manufacturing sites within the town.”
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