Dutch meat group Vion has reaffimed that its Hall’s of Broxburn processing facility will close, with none of the bids received having provided a “viable alternative”.

In a letter to workers earlier this month, Vion said it was still in talks with interested parties over the potential sale of the site, where 1,700 people are employed. However, it added that if a “sustainable solution” could not be found the company would commence a phased shutdown process later this month.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In an update today (16 October), Vion said that, having reviewed two offers over the weekend, it had been “forced to conclude” that neither of the proposals constituted a “viable and sustainable alternative” to the proposed closure of the plant.

Vion chairman Peter Barr said that neither of the offers provided a guarantee of ongoing employment for the workforce, despite its offer of “substantial financial assistance” to support an acquisition.

“This is a very sad day for the company but, unfortunately, the plant continues to suffer unsustainable losses of GBP79,000 a day,” Barr said. “Consequently, it is with great regret that we can confirm that it is our intention to proceed with plans for a phased closure of the plant.

“As previously outlined, this will mean that some areas will cease production later this month with full closure expected to take place by February 2013.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact