Orkney abattoir closes after ‘difficult trading conditions’

Hatston Abattoir on the Orkney Islands, which has been running for 22 years, has been forced to close because of difficult trading conditions, according to owner Orkney Meat.


There are 30,000 cattle on the islands, and Hatston was the only abattoir.


“It is very concerning that a business which has worked hard to add value locally and built an enviable reputation for quality should find it impossible to continue trading,” said Jim McLaren, chairman of Quality Meat Scotland.


“The position Orkney Meat has found itself in further highlights the extreme difficulties being faced by processors up and down the country.


“This week’s announcements further underline the need to maintain critical mass in our Scottish livestock industry. Any fear that an increase in stock numbers could undermine producer prices needs to be balanced against the potential impact on the future competitiveness of the whole red meat chain of the loss of key parts of our processing sector.”


The Orkney Meat news follows the announcement last week of a meat trading loss of almost £4m in 2011 for ANM Group.

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