2 Sisters Food to lay off 200 workers at Coupar Angus plant

UK-headquartered 2 Sisters Food is set to reduce its workforce by up to a third at its chicken processing plant in Coupar Angus, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, which currently employs 658 people.

About 200 jobs could be made redundant due to falling consumer demand and an oversupply in the chicken market, the company said, adding that the plant was making substantial losses.

The company has commenced a 45-day consultation, and the layoffs are expected to occur in the new year.

In addition to the reduction in workforce, there will be changes to shift patterns and working hours for the remaining staff at the plant.

Commenting on the job cuts, 2 Sisters Food said, "Today we are setting out a rescue plan for Scotland that will help secure the viability of the poultry industry and give us a better opportunity for future growth and success.

"There is an oversupply of poultry in Scotland, which has historically been the least efficient manufacturing base.

"There is also evidence of a decline in the UK poultry market due to changes in consumer demand. This situation is unsustainable."

Finance Secretary John Swinney said that he will work with the company and Scottish Enterprise to minimise the effects of the decision.

Unite regional industrial officer Dougie Maguire said, "There has been no consultation with management or even a suggestion that cuts were in the pipeline – it’s a stunning development and particularly so soon after the Vion buyout."

The Coupar Angus site was acquired by 2 Sisters from Dutch food processor Vion in March this year.

The company purchased 11 processing sites – in Coupar Angus, Cambuslang and Portlethen in Scotland; Llangefni, Sandycroft and Merthyr in Wales; and Basildon, Witham, Eye, Victoria and Bodmin in England – as the Dutch firm announced plans to exit UK operations to focus on its core food activities in the Netherlands and Germany.

2 Sisters is a supplier of poultry, red meat, chilled, bakery and frozen items to supermarkets and retailers, and it employs about 24,000 people across its 49 sites in the UK, Ireland, Holland and Poland.

---

Image: The job cuts at the chicken processing plant are likely to take effect early next year. Photo courtesy of piyato at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.