UK – 2 Sisters Group has proposed plans to extend its Cavaghan & Gray factory in Carlisle for a new chiller unit, additional production and storage space and an expansion of the southern elevation of the current building.
In the proposal, 2 Sisters indicated the expansion was necessary for a simple internal reconfiguration at the site and that existing access to the site would be altered as part of the proposal, according to a report by FoodManufacture.
“The existing site comprises one longitudinal building served via a service corridor running along the southern aspect of the building, which connects the different parts of the building,” said the application statement.
“The two main extensions will be accessed internally via the service corridor and any new dock access into the building will be accessed via existing hard standings and access roads.”
This comes after news that the group was closing down its Cambuslang site in Scotland with the loss of 450 jobs, the company saying every effort to turnaround including cost reduction measures and an attempt to grow the business organically were unfruitful.
2 Sisters also had revealed plans to enter into consultation with colleagues and customers after speculations that about 400 jobs were at risk at ‘its loss-making’ Grimsby-based fish processor, Five Star Fish.
According to Viv Dodd, secretary of Carlisle City Centre Business Group, the move consolidates jobs, something important for the city.
While speculators insisted the move was for a possible contract with M&S, who had earlier signed contracts with Young’s Seafood Limited.
M&S would award a prepared fish contract to 2 Sisters Food Group after Young’s Seafood Limited said it plans to close its “no longer financially sustainable” Pinneys factory before the end of the year putting 450 jobs at risk.
Young’s said it planned to move natural salmon production from Annan to Grimsby and to exit the deli and meals production.
