UK processor Icelandic Seachill to axe 86 jobs after losing M&S contract

UK-based chilled fish processor Icelandic Seachill has confirmed that it would axe nearly 86 jobs and close a factory after losing a supply contract with Marks and Spencer (M&S).

The processing company is reported to be of the largest employer in the town, and now plans to stop production at its deli site on Estate Road Five next year.

Icelandic Seachill spokesperson was quoted by grimsbytelegraph.co.uk as saying: “Following M&S's decision to transfer all their business with Icelandic Seachill to an alternative supplier, in June, we announced a proposal to close the existing Icelandic Seachill deli site and transfer production into our coated site.

“We entered into collective consultations with Unite the Union and elected representatives of our monthly paid employees. This milestone has now been reached and the consultations have now broadly concluded.

“We can confirm that the deli site location is expected to close at the end of March 2017 and remaining products will be relocated to the coated site location.

“Although any job losses are regrettable, we can report that the final number of redundancies will be significantly lower than originally envisaged, falling from 175 to 86.

“There is a possibility of this figure reducing further as employees take opportunities at our chilled site, however, this will have an impact on the number of agency staff employed.”

The largest proportion of the supply contract from M&S was won by Five Star Fish, which is owned by Two Sisters Food Group.

The company said that the job loss figures were much lower than initially estimated.