Vion-owned Welsh Country Foods is to close its lamb processing business in Anglesey, putting 310 jobs on the line.
The facility, which will close with immediate effect, was linked to a potential management buy-out last month.
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The future of the plant had been uncertain since the start of the year when it lost a contract to supply Asda, which accounted for around 50% of the site’s business.
However, agreement on the possible takeover was not reached. Welsh Country Foods site director Eddie Ennis said the company had explored “every possible avenue” to avoid closure but had been unable to identify any viable alternative.
“We have had extensive discussions with a number of parties who expressed interest in buying the plant but regrettably no agreement could be reached with these parties whereby the site can continue operations on an ongoing basis,” he said. “The loss of the plant’s major customer means that there is no longer a viable future for the site.”
In November last year, Vion announced in was selling its UK food operations as part of a strategy to focus on its core food activities in the Netherlands and Germany and its global ingredients business.
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By GlobalDataIn December, Vion sold its UK pork arm in an MBO. A month later, it offloaded its Hall’s brand to Scotland’s Browns Food Group and premium sausage brand Debbie & Andrew’s to Ireland’s ABP Food Group.
Last month, Vion struck a deal to sell its UK poultry and the rest of its red meat processing businesses to Boparan Holdings, the parent of 2 Sisters Food Group.
