The company has been a large employer for years.
Anglo Beef Processors might cut more than 300 jobs (Image: Getty)
A major retail meat packing plant might cut more than 300 jobs following its announcement to close. Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Linden plant on the Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon will be shut down.
Foods processes and manufactures beef, lamb, pork and chicken for branded and own label products. The decision has been affected by the “difficult but necessary requirement to consolidate and reduce the number of its retail packing facilities”, the company said in a statement.
As a consequence of the closure, the firm has entered into “a formal consultation process with 338 colleagues whose jobs are at risk. We will seek to minimise the impact on those who are affected. This would include redeployment where possible.” The business added that it would continue to receive and process cattle and sheep at a separate facility located on the same industrial estate in Dungannon.
ABP Linden in Dungannon (Image: Google Maps)
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew said: “This news will come as a shock to the workers at this retail packing facility, and my thoughts are with them and their families.
“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.
“I will be engaging with the company in the time ahead and would urge its management to ensure proper communication with employees and trade unions.”
Democratic Unionist Party MLA Deborah Erskine and Ulster Unionist Party MLA Diana Armstrong have also expressed their concerns. Speaking to the BBC, Erskine described the news as “a hammer blow to the local economy”. Armstrong said it was “extremely bad news” for skilled workers facing “enormous uncertainty” and warned some may have to travel further or relocate for work.
An ABP spokesperson added: “This has been a very difficult step. But we are facing a challenging and changing UK and global marketplace for beef and lamb.
“Streamlining 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.”
