A LEADING north-east seafood firm announced last night it was closing with the loss of dozens of jobs.
Family-run firm G&J Jack, which has been a part of the Fraserburgh economy for more than half a century, will close its doors before the end of the year, bosses have confirmed.
The company has blamed strict fish-landing quotas and a general downturn in the local industry for the decision to shut its Harbour Road factory. It follows a failed attempt to sell the business as a going concern.
Yesterday, its 55-strong workforce of filleters, labourers, drivers and office staff were told they would soon be made redundant.
In a statement released last night, director Ian Jack said: “For four generations, G&J Jack Ltd has been operating as one of Scotland’s most respected and successful fish processing companies, delivering high-quality fish to customers throughout Europe.
“However, the decline in the industry has been significant over the last two decades, with the white-fish sector in which G&J Jack Ltd operates being affected by reduced fish stocks and quota availability.”
He said the Jack family, which owns and runs the firm, had tried several strategies to continue trading and safeguard jobs.
“Attempts to sell the business as a going concern have not proved successful, despite recent interest,” said Mr Jack.
“The current board of five directors and shareholders are keen to ensure that all stakeholder groups are looked after and thus have made the difficult decision to cease operations permanently at the end of the year.
“It is regretted that all staff will be made redundant.”
Business will continue as usual in the meantime. Mr Jack stressed that the company was not insolvent and added that all staff would receive full entitlements.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson described the closure last night as a major blow to the Broch.
He said: “It is certainly very disappointing to hear that a long-established company like Jacks is being forced to take these measures.
“Obviously, my thoughts are with the staff and their families at this very difficult time. I will be making sure that the government provides them with all the assistance they need to find new employment.”
He added: “For a town like Fraserburgh, this is a very substantial blow. Jacks is a well-known business in the area and it will be sorely missed.”
Local MP Eilidh Whiteford said: “This is terrible news for the workforce to receive just before Christmas.
“I am ready to lend any assistance that I can to support them.
“I would hope that discussions over the next few days could open up new possibilities.”
Fraserburgh councillor Charles Buchan said: “This amount of job losses is a major blow for a town the size of Fraserburgh and I hope that they will be able to find new work within the local job market as quickly as possible. It’s very unfortunate that this has happened at this time of year. The timing could not have been worse.”
He added: “There have been rumours about Jacks for a few weeks now. It’s sad that they have turned out to be true.”
Earlier this month, a study revealed that unemployment figures in the Fraserburgh area had been slashed.
The most recent figures showed 217 people were out of work in and around the Broch, compared with 284 the year before.