Bhagat Holdings is taking over a manufacturing facility in Scotland previously-owned by Young’s Seafood before the plant was closed last summer, with the chicken and seafood processor planning to create around 120 initial jobs.
The site in Annan was the location for Young’s chilled fish business, Pinneys, until it shut the plant in June with the loss of 450 jobs.
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Now, Bhagat will inject GBP9m (US$11.8m) to start production of seafood and chicken products this autumn, according to the private company’s Russian owner Keshav Bhagat. The Scottish government is also providing an additional GBP1.7m grant through the Scottish Enterprise scheme to support the firm’s European expansion plans to Scotland.
Mr Bhagat, who is also the managing director, said: “We’re thrilled with the site in Annan as it’s ideal for our ambitious bread crumb, dry mixes, fish and chicken-coating operations. We know there’s a highly-skilled local workforce that can help us grow our business, and that’s one of the key reasons we chose to locate in Scotland.”
The Scottish government’s rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said a number of local bodies came together in an effort to bring Bhagat Holdings to Annan, including Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Enterprise, and the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.
“I’m delighted that an international company like Bhagat Holdings has chosen to invest in Scotland, with the immediate creation of a significant number of jobs, which will make a real difference to local people and the local economy,” Ewing added.
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By GlobalData“When Young’s closed last summer, I said that we would leave no stone unturned and we would keep working to find a solution and an alternative use for this site. That hard work has now paid off and it is Annan and the local community and families who will benefit.”
