Danish seafood company Espersen is to go ahead and close its UK fish-processing facility in Grimsby with the loss of 115 jobs.  

The final decision was confirmed yesterday (8 July) following a review and consultation process that began in May.  

In a statement, Espersen said after a “thorough and respectful dialogue with employee representatives”, it has “made the decision to close the Grimsby site” by mid-November this year.  

Tino Bendix, who joined the business as CEO last year, added: “The outcome of the consultation process is not the one we had hoped for, but it reflects the business reality we must address.

“While we are exiting production in Grimsby, we remain a trusted partner to our UK customers as we have been for decades before acquiring the plant in Grimsby.

"We are preparing to re-establish our UK sales office to support continued growth in this important market.”

Espersen acquired the Grimsby plant when it purchased the UK operations of Iceland Seafood International in 2023, but the site has been operating at a loss. 

Pointing to the last year’s DKr57m ($8.6m) loss for the overall business, Espersen said in May that the “combination of lower [group] volumes, higher raw material costs, and the operating losses from the Grimsby production facility have significantly contributed to the reported negative profit before net financials”. 

Ahead of the upcoming closure, Espersen said it remains “fully committed” to fulfilling all customer obligations from Grimsby under existing agreements unless mutually agreed transitions are arranged. 

For the affected employees, a dedicated HR and management team will offer support such as outplacement assistance, one-on-one counselling, and guidance on the next steps, the company said.   

“We are fully aware of the impact this decision has on our colleagues and their families, and we are deeply grateful for their contribution to Espersen and dedication in this process,” Bendix said.

The Grimsby closure follows a similar decision in March when Espersen announced the closure of its Klaipėda plant in Lithuania, shifting production to Poland. 

Espersen described the decision as a “strategic consolidation” of its European operations.