Marks and Spencer Food hall. (Photo: Tony Monblat)

Marks and Spencer urged to avoid seafood factory closure

UNITED KINGDOM
Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 02:20 (GMT + 9)

Retail giant Marks and Spencer (M&S) has been urged to prevent the closure of Pinneys seafood factory in Annan, where nearly 600 people are set to lose their jobs.

M&S is deemed responsible for the closure of the factory after being accused of leaving the factory vulnerable to increased production costs by insisting it produced food exclusively for the British retail, The National reported.

Young’s, who operate the factory, announced last week it had abandoned its M&S contracts for deli and prepared meals, produced at Pinneys, stating these were no longer financially viable.

This decision was taken by Young's despite a GBP 600,000 investment in the plant to meet M&S requirements. The rest of the contracts for “natural salmon” or fillets are being moved to Young’s Grimsby plant along with 200 jobs.

However, in a letter to M&S chairman Archie Norman, Scottish Parliament Member Joan McAlpine pointed out that customers expect Scottish salmon to be wholly produced in Scotland.

The Parliamentarian also claims she had been told that M&S expected Young’s to absorb too much of the 25 per cent increase in the cost of salmon, which has risen sharply because of a global shortage. She said Youngs had tried to negotiate new production methods with M&S, such as saving on waste by throwing away less salmon deemed to have tiny cosmetic flaws.

However, the retailer allegedly refused to compromise and refused to pass any more cost on to shoppers.

McAlpine said the threat to the 427 permanent and up to 150 seasonal jobs makes a mockery of M&S’s well publicised charter of social responsibility – known as “Plan A” – where it says it puts people and communities first.

For his part, an M&S spokesperson said: “M&S is committed to paying a fair price to our suppliers and we are working closely with them, as part of our transformation programme, to create a faster supply base and improve value and availability for our customers.”

Related article:

- Young’s Seafood announces M&S partnership and Annan´s factory closure

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