Workers at the ESCo plant in Dingwall have been informed that the salmon processor will close.
The future of the Edinburgh Salmon Company (ESCo) based in Dingwall is to close with the loss of over 160 jobs following an announcement yesterday by owners Européenne de la Mer (a subsidiary of Thai Union Group) according to the BBC.
Thai Union
The Thai Union Group-owned Edinburgh Salmon Company (ESCo) processes salmon as its own-brand products for retail and wholesale.
The processing plant in Dingwall, Scotland has 163 staff workers, and up to 100 temporary workers at times of peak demand.
Production at the site is to cease at the end of the year.
Highly challenging market conditions
A spokeswoman for the owners, Européenne de la Mer, a subsidiary of Thai Union Group said back in September that the company had continued “to suffer heavy losses as a result of highly challenging market conditions and industry trends.”
In a statement, the owners said: “At this time, our primary concern is the future of our employees and we are now entering into an individual consultation process with each of them.
“We are making every possible effort to support them in their search for alternative employment.
“We are exploring all opportunities and are working with the Scottish Government and local enterprise and skills agencies to identify employment options in the local area.”
ESCo is to “maintain the necessary employees” to fulfil all current contracted obligations which run until the end of the year.
Lost two major customers
The statement added: “We would like to thank all employees for their commitment to the company to date and their professionalism during this difficult time.”
The company had in recent years lost two major customers including Pret A Manger as well as supermarket giant Asda to Young’s in 2014.
ESC was sold for £11.5million by J.W. Seafoods to Merinvest, the French parent of seafood firm MerAlliance, in 2013.
Then in September 2014, MerAlliance was acquired by Thai Union, through its Paris-based subsidiary MW Brands, whose portfolio includes the John West tinned salmon range.
