Baxters Food Group has warned it will shut down over half its UK retail business as landlords prepare to sell off its flagship store near Perth.
The Fochabers-based soup firm is set to close its shops in Edinburgh’s Ocean terminal, Selkirk and at the Eaglesgate Retail Village, affecting 70 jobs.
The owners of the Eaglesgate in Blackford, represented by Threadneedle Property Investments, plan to sell the park. It is thought the potential buyers plan to redevelop the site which also hosts the Tullibardine Distillery and visitor centre.
Plans for the Eaglesgate Retail scheme are being kept under tight wraps. Last night an agent for the scheme decline to comment.
It is thought the Tullibardine Distillery linked to the retail park will remain. A French family-owned vintner, Picard Vins & Spiritueux acquired it in 2011. The single malt producer was sold by investors Alan Williamson and Douglas Ross, who had resurrected the previously mothballed distillery’s fortunes in 2001
The £4million visitor centre and retail attraction was developed by Edinburgh-based property developer Kenmore, which went into administration in 2009 at the height of the property crash.
Baxters, thought to be the last major retailer at the scheme, said the site played a “central role” in its operations in the South of Scotland.
It is thought Baxters will keep its “home farm” shop in Kelty, Fife, as well as its headquarters in Moray.
A spokesman for Baxters said: “We can confirm it is the intention to close our Selkirk and Ocean Terminal retail operations should Blackford close. They are likely to close early in 2014. [There are] 23 people are employed at Selkirk, eight at Ocean Terminal and 41 at Blackford in a variety of full and part-time jobs.
“Our landlord at Blackford requires vacant possession of the Eaglesgate Retail Village to enable a sale of the development to take place.
“As this site plays a central role in the management and administration of the retail division its closure will sadly necessitate the closure of the other outlets.
“The board has evaluated various alternatives but the costs involved do not make any of them viable.
“Should the sale of Blackford proceed as planned we will enter a 30-day period of consultation prior to the announced closure date.
“All employees will be offered outplacement support and be made aware of any internal vacancies within the group. Redundancy would be provided to all those entitled to receive it.”