Visits planned as 15 interested in Keiss abattoir
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MORE than 15 enquiries have been made about a Caithness abattoir and meat processing company which has gone into administration.
That was revealed yesterday by the administrators of Caithness Beef and Lamb which owns the £4 million state-of-the-art facility at Keiss.
Administrators RSM Tenon said there has been “strong interest” expressed inn the business from the farming, meat and food processing sectors across the UK and Europe since it went into administration on Monday.
RSM Tenon is now circulating sales and information packs and has already begun arranging site visits.
Joint administrator Iain Fraser said: “We are very encouraged with the level of interest in a facility that could be brought into production relatively quickly and easily.
“The plant took three years to design and build, and features some of the best slaughtering and food processing equipment available.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an existing meat or food processing business to instantly acquire additional capacity, or for an entrepreneur to move into this market.”
The plant is currently being operated on a care-and-maintenance basis. The production facility extends to 1300 square metres and includes offices and storage, but only operated trial production runs.
Caithness Beef and Lamb initially aimed to provide an abattoir service for farmers in the North of Scotland.
Additionally, there were plans to develop a range of Caithness-branded meat products, including prime cuts, sausages, cooked hams and haggis.
RSM Tenon said the administration was caused by intense competition and rising costs within the meat slaughtering and processing sectors.
As reported in the Caithness Courier on Wednesday, Caithness Beef and Lamb owner John Sutherland revealed that he plans to sue the Bank of Scotland for around £10 million after his business went into administration.
He blames the bank for its collapse and claimed it reneged on its original commitment to the project.
“They are an absolute disgrace to the country,” he said.
Mr Sutherland claimed the bank failed to deliver around £250,000 towards the cost of the premises and never provided a promised £2m working overdraft.
As a result, the business only undertook work for local butchers before production ceased last year with the loss of 15 jobs. Three people were retained to look after the premises and keep the licences up to date.
The Bank of Scotland declined to comment on Mr Sutherland’s claims.
