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Young's Seafood Ltd has announced its intention to start formal consultations with staff at the former Cumbrian Seafoods sites in Seaham, Whitehaven and Border Laird (Amble) to explore proposals and possible options for the facilities.
Cumbrian Seafoods went into administration on 5 December 2011. Lion Capital then acquired the customer contracts and equipment from the administrators. During December executives from Young’s Seafood Limited, Lion Capital’s existing fish and seafood business, spent time at the former Cumbrian Seafoods sites, talking to members of staff and reviewing operations.
Young's said in a statement: "It is clear from the fact that Cumbrian Seafoods went into administration that the business model for the Cumbrian sites was not financially viable and restructuring is now needed.
"To this end, we are proposing the integration and servicing of customer contracts by Young’s Seafood Limited and the movement of volume between sites. This will be discussed in detail and we will look across all Young’s Seafood Limited’s sites and the former Cumbrian Seafoods sites. If, following consultation, this proposal is implemented, it could result in the loss of up to 363 jobs in Seaham, 112 jobs in Whitehaven and 80 jobs at the Border Laird site in Amble."
Pete Ward, Chief Operating Officer of Young’s Seafood Limited, said: “We want to ensure that we deliver quality products for our customers in the most effective and efficient way. This is the beginning of a journey and we will draw on the knowledge and experience of the employees at the sites. This move does not reflect on the committed and skilled teams in Seaham, Whitehaven and Amble, who are continuing to work hard through this time, which is a huge credit to the whole workforce. However, it is clear from the fact that the business went into administration that the current business model is not viable. We continue to be focussed on fulfilling customer contracts and talking, in detail, with the employees about options for the future.”
Young’s Seafood Limited is a leading supplier of chilled and frozen, branded and own-label fish and seafood to consumers and customers. Young’s Seafood Limited employs around 3,200 people across 13 UK sites. The former Cumbrian Seafoods’ large scale Seaham site produces a wide range of fish and seafood including white fish and prawns. The Whitehaven former Cumbrian Seafoods site is a primary processor and smoker of fish. The former Cumbrian Seafoods’ Border Laird site is a primary processor of Langoustines and has fishcake making facilities.
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