The fight to save the Cromer Crab Co. is on.
Last week, its owner, Young’s Seafood Ltd., announced that it may close the North Norfolk shellfish-processing facility, revealing that it has initiated a 90-day consultation process with the staff to explore the facility’s options; 230 people may be out of a job.
“For some time it has been clear that we are now facing a new reality in the economic environment that requires a new plan to ensure we continue to be a sustainable, long-term business,” said Young’s COO Pete Ward. “This new economic reality means the Cromer site has been struggling with inflation, industry over capacity, new capacity coming into shellfish processing, aggressive competition, pressure on margins from promotions and customers and consumers who are looking for ever-better value.”
But community leaders — including Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and officials with Unite, Britain’s and Ireland’s biggest union — have pledged to save the Cromer Crab Co. They’re meeting with Young’s executives to find out what can be done, and, according to one report, the company hasn’t yet made up its mind to close the facility. Lamb and Unite also have the support of local supermarket chains.
“At this stage it is only a proposal, and I have made arrangements to meet with management to discuss the situation,” said Lamb when he learned of the news.
Lamb has also posted a petition on his website asking residents to support the Cromer Crab Co.: “We the undersigned call on Young’s and Findus [Young’s parent company] to keep the Cromer Crab in Cromer. We urge them to do everything they can to protect crucially important jobs at their Cromer facility, and to work with employees to ensure the factory remains viable.”
Another petition has been posted at www.petitionbuzz.com; more than 550 people had signed the petition as of Tuesday.
