Young’s Seafood Grimsby factory closure proposals risks 285 roles

The proposal will see the remaining whitefish processing undertaken at Marsden Road moved to the Humberstone Road site in Grimsby and the smoked processing to their Fraserburgh site in Scotland.

Sofina said it has explored a number of options to try and maintain production at the site from October, but had found that producing the remain whitefish contract at Marsden Road would no longer be financially sustainable.

Formal consultation

The company will now enter into a formal consultation with staff and their representatives at the Marsden Road site “as soon as practicable​” to discuss and consider options. If all goes ahead, production will cease at the site from October 2023.

A number of new roles will be created at the Humberstone Road and Fraserburgh sites to support the transfer. Sofina said it would do all it can to offer alternative opportunities across the group where possible to those affected by these proposals.

A statement from the group read: “Today’s proposals to cease production at the Marsden Road site does not reflect on the committed and skilled teams who work there – they are a credit to the Company. If the proposals go ahead, we will work hard to maintain the employment of all colleagues throughout this transition. ​

Manufacturing in Grimsby

“Sofina Foods Europe has a long history of seafood production in Grimsby and whatever the outcome of the consultation we will continue to be a part of the community, given our other manufacturing sites within the town.”​

The proposed closure of Young’s Seafood Marsden Road followed a number of closures experienced across the food and drink manufacturing industry.

Waves of staff at plant-based meat manufacturer Meatless Farm have been made redundant, as the business announced it had appointed administrators.​​

Meanwhile, poultry processor Avara Foods has announced proposals to close its Abergavenny factory in Autumn 2023,​​ placing 400 roles at the site at the risk of redundancy.