Job cuts which slash the workforce at the biggest employer in Coupar Angus by a third have been confirmed.
The 2 Sisters Food Group which operates the chicken processing plant had embarked on a consultation period with employees back in November.
That period has ended and it was announced that 230 people from a workforce of 651 are losing their jobs, slightly fewer than the 260 first feared.
MSP John Swinney said he was “disappointed” by the confirmation of the job losses.
“I have been working with the company to try to minimise the impact of the restructuring,” he said. “I will also be working with other local organisations, including Perth and Kinross Council to try to secure further economic opportunities for the area to overcome this difficult news.”
The company confirmed the scale of the job losses, saying: “2 Sisters Food Group has worked with Unite to agree a new shift pattern which has enabled the reduction in numbers to be kept to a minimum and has secured jobs for 421 people at the site.
“All employees have been offered the opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy. It is anticipated approximately half of the reduction will come from voluntary redundancies.”