By Dave Lord

THE SPECTRE of savage job cuts at one of Perthshire’s largest factories has been removed.

Just last month Grampian Country Foods announced that almost 100 jobs were set to be axed at its chicken processing premises on the outskirts of Coupar Angus.

The portioning section was earmarked for closure amid “massive pressures” in the global food sector.

Politicians and unions quickly organised a series of meetings and consultations in a bid to avert the punishing losses, and last night their efforts appeared to have paid off as the company said that no lay-offs were anticipated.

The chicken portioning unit is still to shut but the 95 people who work there are likely to be redeployed within the firm.

The new work will involve processing whole chickens for the food service sector, including butchers, throughout Scotland.

Grampian Country Foods intends to fill the void left when Mitchell’s of Letham, part of the Birmingham-based 2 Sisters group, pulled out of this side of the business at very short notice earlier this month.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart, who had met management of the Coupar Angus plant many times to discuss job security, hailed the news as “excellent.”

Mr Wishart said the people of Coupar Angus would be delighted to learn that swingeing cuts had been avoided.

“I have always pushed for assurances that job losses would be kept to a minimum and that those losing their jobs would be accommodated within existing operations,” he continued.

“I was therefore absolutely delighted to hear that no job losses have been announced.

“This is excellent news for those at Grampian Foods and for families throughout the Coupar Angus area.

“I very much welcome the management’s decision not to cut any jobs.”

North Tayside MSP John Swinney was similarly pleased following what has been a very worrying few weeks for local families.

“Grampian Country Foods is vitally important to Coupar Angus and the local economy and the factory employs over 600 people,” he said.

“I warmly welcome this announcement, especially considering the turbulent economic conditions facing the global food market.

“I applaud Grampian Foods’ management for their handling of this potentially difficult situation.

“We were possibly looking at scores of job losses and I am delighted that this is not the case.”