Processor plans to close fish factory

The 41 staff who work at Midgleys' whitefish filleting operation, in Wassand Street, Hull, have been offered the chance to relocate to the company's factory in Grimsby.

The company blamed increasing fuel prices, Humber Bridge tolls and the need to upgrade its plant in Hull for the move.

Managing director of The Seafood Company Pete Ward said the cost of transporting fish from Hull to Grimsby, where it is prepared and packaged for sale in supermarkets, no longer made commercial sense.

He said: "By consolidating our operations in Marsden Road we could create a more competitive, efficient, responsive and robust supply chain."

Mr Ward said the firm was keen that as many workers as possible relocate to Grimsby.

A spokeswoman said initial reactions had been "quite positive", but it was still early days.

Lance Stainforth, a director of Hull Fish Merchants Association, said: "It is one of the bigger merchants gone from a smaller group that's already diminishing anyway.

"It's a big loss and I'm sure given the state of the industry, the guys who are losing their jobs are going to find it hard other jobs in the industry. The jobs just aren't there at the moment."

A 30-day consultation over the relocation has now begun. If agreed there would be a phased closure over 90 days.