Up to 1,700 jobs could go after Dutch-owned meat giant Vion announced plans to close its Hall’s of Broxburn site in Scotland.
The group said the site was costing it £79,000 a day.
“This is an extremely sad day and one we have strenuously tried to avoid for the past four years, but the huge losses being incurred mean we believe we have no alternative,” said UK chairman Peter Barr.
He said there was significant over-capacity in the UK meat industry and market conditions were “extremely challenging”.
Vion took over the site in 2008 when it acquired Grampian Country Food Group. It is a major processing site for Scottish pork and handles about 8,000 pigs each week.
Vion had subsequently taken “every possible step to secure the future of the business,” including a restructure, heavyweight investment and drafting in new management from across the group, Barr said.
A 90-day redundancy consultation period has now begun.
