Dingwall facility is a catch for fish firm with eyes on a global market as Loch Duart creates 60 new jobs in Ross-shire's county town
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ROSS-SHIRE's county town will enjoy the spin-off benefits of a fish farming firm's trailblazing venture with the creation of 60 jobs.
Loch Duart's decision to locate its first processing plant in Dingwall, servicing customers around the world, has been hailed "a very good development" for the local economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus crisis.
The firm, recently listed on the London Stock Exchange, can now harvest its salmon from sites in Sutherland and the Uists during the day and have it processed and packed by hand at the plant overnight for distribution to customers around the world.
It's a boost for Dingwall which was left reeling when the Edinburgh Salmon Company, which previously owned the plant in the west of the town, shut down its Ross-shire operation two years ago with the loss of 260 jobs.
Loch Duart managing director Mark Warrington, said: "Our beautiful new branded boxes are rolling out of our Dingwall plant for distribution to customers worldwide. The plant is a world class seafood facility and, in addition to gutting, packing and filleting our own stock, Loch Duart is processing for other quality Scottish producers."
General manager Russell Leslie, who like Mr Warrington worked in the Dingwall factory at the start of his career, said the huge amount of space at the plant was a major advantage in adhering to social distancing guidelines.
He said: "Having previously worked in the facility I have been able to build a new team who have the skills and enthusiasm to handle Loch Duart salmon, fresh from our farms in Sutherland and the Uists.These are skilled jobs, vital to the economy of the Highlands and it’s great to see how the new team has risen to the challenge of helping prepare high quality salmon which will be enjoyed not just across Britain, but around the world.”
Both declared themselves proud to be revitalising the plant and creating new jobs.
Highland economist Tony Mackay said: "This is certainly a very good development for the Ross-shire economy. We are going through a very difficult time because of the coronavirus pandemic and I fear that a lot of local jobs will be lost when the current furlough scheme ends.
"Loch Duart is a local company, headquartered in Sutherland, so it is excellent that they have made this investment in the Dingwall factory. Sixty jobs are very important now because of the pandemic and the downturn in the oil and gas industry, as illustrated by the numbers of redundant oil rigs now in the Cromarty Firth. There is little doubt that the salmon industry has a good long term future. There will also be spin-off benefits for local shops and the housing market."
MSP Kate Forbes said: "I recently spoke to senior management and was delighted to hear that the company is looking at expanding even further, which could mean more jobs at the site. This is great news for Dingwall."
Dingwall councillor Graham Mackenzie said: "This is good news – not only for the people who have secured jobs but also in terms of the money they will spend in the local economy."
Fergus Ewing, Rural Economy and Tourism secretary, said:"This is an excellent example of the positive economic and social impact that salmon farming has in our remote and rural communities, showing how it contributes to our blue economy and the green recovery.
Loch Duart currently produces 6000 tonnes of high-quality salmon each year and employs 160 people.
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