Jobs go as seafood plant closes

Young's Bluecrest has an annual turnover of more than £500m

A leading seafood company is to close one of its factories in Hull with the loss of 131 jobs.

Young's Bluecrest Seafood Ltd (YBS) intends transferring production of smoked fish from the Liverpool Street plant to Fraserburgh in Scotland.

The company said it needs to make the move to remain competitive and the factory will close at the end of March.

The YBS chilled food plant at Gillett Street in Hull, which employs 260 people, is not affected by the plans.

Significant disadvantage

Managing director Pete Ward said it was hoped that anyone wanting to transfer to another site in the group would be able to do so.

"It is most regrettable that we have had to take this decision, particularly since the chilled seafood market is growing well at the moment," he added.

"However, to remain competitive we have to maximise the value of our various production facilities, and unfortunately the Liverpool Street location is at a significant disadvantage when set alongside our principal fish smoking capabilities in Scotland."

YBS acquired the two factories in Hull when it bought Marr Foods in 2003.

It employs some 3,000 people on both sides of the Humber, 2,500 of them in Grimsby where the business has its headquarters. It has more than 1,500 staff in Scotland.