ABP has announced plans to stop retail packing at its Linden Foods facility at Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon, as the company enters into a formal consultation process with employees.
A statement issued on behalf of the processor said: “ABP continually reviews its processing footprint to ensure that we have the most efficient operational model aligned to trading conditions and market trends.
“Changes in the UK landscape have led to the difficult but necessary requirement to consolidate and reduce the number of our retail packing facilities situated within the UK including Northern Ireland.
“Regrettably therefore it is our intention to cease retail packing at our ABP Linden retail packing facility based at Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon. As a consequence, we have entered into a formal consultation process with 338 colleagues whose jobs are at risk.”
ABP said it would “seek to minimise the impact” on those affected, which would include redeployment “where possible”.
The company will continue to receive and process cattle and sheep as usual, and the jobs at its separate facility within Granville Industrial Estate “will not be impacted”.
ABP said its Lurgan and Newry sites would not be impacted, and will continue to operate and receive livestock as usual, while its Kettyle Irish Foods facility in Lisnaskea will also remain unaffected.
A spokesperson for ABP commented: “This has been a very difficult step. But we are facing a challenging and changing UK and global marketplace for beef and lamb. Stream-lining our operations is a necessity to achieve operational efficiencies, maintain our competitiveness and strengthen our business for the long term.
“We are providing support to all colleagues at risk of redundancy within the ABP Linden retail packing facility. This will include exploring opportunities for redeployment or relocation.
“ABP UK remains committed to Northern Ireland’s agrifood sector. We continue to focus on developing future opportunities for the sale of Northern Irish beef and lamb within the UK and further afield. Our long-standing procurement partnerships with Northern Irish farmer suppliers is supported by continued investment in the future sustainability of beef and lamb production in Northern Ireland.”
MPs seek engagement with ABP
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agriculture spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP responded to ABP’s decision: “I am deeply shocked and disappointed to learn that ABP Linden intends to cease its retail packing operation at Granville on the outskirts of Dungannon.
“Dungannon and the wider Mid-Ulster area has a proud industrial and agri-food heritage. The Linden facility has been a significant employer for decades, and its importance to the local economy cannot be overstated.”
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew also expressed his concern, stating: “I would urge the company to do all it can to retain as many jobs as possible, including redeployment. It must also support those workers made redundant with retraining or re-skilling.”
