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YOUNG'S Seafood has announced that it is entering a 90-day consultation period with staff at its shellfish processing site in Cromer in Norfolk.
The site employs around 230 people and the company said it was reviewing its manufacturing operations there which means that some or all of the jobs there could be at risk.
The process will explore possible options for the Cromer site, which the company said could include closure sometime next year. Under the proposals, some operations would relocate to other sites possibly in Grimsby or to plants in Scotland, where the majority of Young's UK employees are currently based.
Peter Ward, chief operating officer of Young's Seafood Limited, praised local staff but told BBC Norfolk that a new plan was needed to ensure Young's would remain a sustainable business.
"We have worked hard in Cromer, over a considerable amount of time, to try to drive sales, reduce costs and ensure this is a viable site but unfortunately the challenges are increasing," he said. "These proposals are about us having to adapt to the new reality in our external environment to ensure that Young's has a long term, successful future."
The news has clearly shocked local staff who are now expected to enter into negotiations to look into possible alternative uses for the site. Cromer is famous throughout Europe for the quality of its crabs.
The Cromer plant was opened in 1980 and processes prawns, crab, lobster and other shellfish for the UK retailers' own-label, chilled product ranges.The review of the shellfish manufacturing operations followed the merger of Young's, Findus UK and Ireland and the Seafood Company as one business.
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