Fresh hope has been raised that a troubled Perthshire food processing factory could be saved.
The Vion chicken processing plant at Coupar Angus, which employs 1,000 staff, faces an uncertain future, after its Dutch owners put it on the market along with the rest of its UK operation.
Heartening news emerged yesterday that a prospective buyer has already toured the site to size up its facilities.
Leeds private equity group Endless is believed to be in talks over buying out the firm’s pork and red meat operations.
The continued interest in the complex was taken positively by local MSP John Swinney.
He said: ”I am sure that a number of interested parties will be looking closely at the Vion facility in Coupar Angus.
”Despite Vion’s unwelcome departure from the UK market, they have invested heavily in Coupar Angus and that provides an opportunity for any future owner.
”I would very much welcome an announcement that the plant was to be bought as a going concern in advance of the Christmas break, which would reassure the workforce.
”Of the utmost importance, however, is that the right buyer is successful in any takeover and that a long-term future is secured”
Scot Walker, of the Unite union, said the immediate future of the site remained uncertain.
He said: ”We understand that Endless is looking at pork sites, red meat sites and poultry sites, and they have been in the Coupar Angus plant.
”As far as the business goes, poultry is the part that’s been profitable.
”Whether that makes poultry more or less attractive to a private equity buyer who wants to turn it around for sale quickly, I don’t know.”
”Once we’ve heard who has purchased the plants, our immediate priority will be to sit down to discuss their plans and get reassurances that jobs and terms and conditions will be protected going forward.”
He said staff at the plant had been heartened by the latest twist.
He said: ”I’m not going to say we’re not disappointed they’re going to sell up, but the fact there are two or three different companies expressing an interest has to be a positive.
”No one is panicking. We’re just trying to continue to serve the customers and do our best to make ourselves an attractive possibility to prospective buyers.”
Endless is a private equity firm that specialises in turning around troubled businesses.
A spokeswoman said the company would not be commenting at this time, but noted an announcement may be imminent.
A spokesman for Vion said: ”Discussions are continuing, we have a good level of interest and we’re hopeful of making an announcement about progress soon.”
Bosses of the firm said there had been two strong inquiries about the factory within days of the sale announcement, one of them from Tesco.
arichardson@thecourier.co.uk