Loch Duart Smokehouse halts Outer Hebrides ops
The company’s sales director Andy Bing has posted a statement on its website, www.lochduartsmokedsalmon.com, notifying customers that the Lochcarnan facility was “ceasing supply”.
“The Smokehouse produces wonderful, delicious products, but unfortunately the business has not been the success that we had envisaged,” Bing stated.
“We have been hoping that a local consortium would take over the business in time to ensure continuity of supply and, during 2014, we invested a great deal of effort into setting up a form of community ownership which fell through for reasons outside our control.
‘Still a chance’
“There is still a chance that another consortium will take on the smokehouse but, unfortunately, a break in production is now unavoidable.”
However, he stressed it was still strongly committed to business within the Hebrides and continued to employ 22 full-time members of staff in its fish farming operations on North and South Uist.
Meantime, Loch Duart has announced the appointment of a new md, Alban Denton, who boasts extensive food industry experience. He was a food buyer at Marks & Spencer before going on several director-level roles at Kettle Produce and Warburtons.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Alban into the company,” said Dr Andrew Barbour, chairman of Loch Duart. “Alban has great track record for getting the most out of the people he works with. He is very experienced in the wider food industry in which we are proud to be part.
‘Continue to innovate’
“With highly experienced salmon farmers at all levels in all departments, the founding directors still active within the company and a talented incoming md, Loch Duart is set in its ambitions to continue to innovate in salmon farming.”
“The challenge for any entrepreneurial company is the next generation of leadership. Loch Duart is delighted to bring these plans forward while the founding directors are still at the core of the company.”
Denton joins the business on April 27 and said: “My first six months will involve total immersion in the west coast farming environment.
“I’ve had a taste of this at the interview stage – during my day at the farm I met as talented a collection of young managers and staff as I’ve come across in my working life. That, along with the values and ethos of Loch Duart, is a fundamental reason for me wanting to take the job and I can’t wait to get back up there.”
