Fish processing firm Loch Duart envisages bright future for Dingwall plant a year on from £2m investment
BOSSES at a Ross-shire fish processing plant envision a bright future for the facility a year on from their £2m investment in buying and refurbishing the facility.
Loch Duart is now exporting to Europe and the United States from the revamped Dingwall plant it bought from the former Thai Union/Edinburgh Salmon Company.
The 50,000 sq. ft. premises has been completely "revitalised" and has obtained the British Retail Consortium's ‘AA’ Grade certification, a supermarket benchmark for food premises
Factory manager Russell Leslie said: “Loch Duart invested £2m in buying and refurbishing the factory and we now employ over 70 people.
"Having worked under the previous ownership and now running the plant myself, I am delighted by the improvements in staff conditions in the last year under the new ownership. The factory and yard are substantial in size allowing us to design in lots of space for working, social distancing and staff welfare. Loch Duart has a proven track record for excellent training and career development over the last 22 years.
“Our clear message to the local community is that we offer high quality jobs with good career prospects and reasonable rates of pay for the sector. For example, a line operative can be promoted to team leader within six months and career development plans are available for everyone who wants to progress.
"Previously the factory had significantly seasonal peaks, but Loch Duart is packing fresh fish not smoked – which is mainly geared to Christmas market. Loch Duart prides itself on its long-served staff and low absence from work. We aim to be exemplary employers offering long term prospects and career development.”
The firm says its high standard of gutting and filleting work has already brought in contracts from other salmon companies, in addition to processing all of Loch Duart’s own harvested output.
It says it is looking to fill roles across the site with ads posted on Facebook and Indeed job sites.
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