WHITEFORD WELCOMES TURRIFF INVESTMENT AS SALMOND OFFICIALLY RE-OPENS WOODHEAD BROTHERS’ FACILITY

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford welcomed the multi-million pound investment in Turriff’s Woodhead Brothers abattoir by parent company Morrisons as local MP Alex Salmond performed the official re-opening of the plant.

The facility – which supplies all of Morrisons’ UK stores with Scotch Beef and Lamb in season was ravaged by fire in April 2008 resulting in the destruction of its lamb and cattle slaughter lines.

It was particularly appropriate for Mr Salmond to have been asked to re-open the facility as he was instrumental in the successful campaign back in 1996 to save the plan – then Buchan Meat Producers – from closure.

Commenting on the fight to save Buchan Meat and local jobs, Alex Salmond said:

“Without that campaign, we would not be here today.”

Mr Salmond went on to pay tribute to Grampian Fire and Rescue Service for their efforts last April, adding:

“The firefighters saved the majority of the facility, allowing Morrisons to operate through the last year without any loss of employment. Thanks have to go to the fire service for their sterling efforts.”

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford commented:

“This is a huge investment on the part of Morrisons and a big vote of confidence in the Turriff workforce.

“It really underlines the resilience of the employees there and the importance of the Turriff plant to the Scottish economy that it has bounced back now from two major blows in the space of just over a decade.

“I am delighted with this further vote of confidence in Turriff and the support that this investment will give to the North-east farming community.”