Jobs lost after abattoir folds

An abattoir believed to be the only one in Shropshire which slaughters lambs, pigs and cattle is going into liquidation with the loss of 13 jobs, it has been revealed.

Daysdrove abattoir on Love Lane Industrial Estate in Bishop's Castle ceased trading on Wednesday.

Company directors are blaming the failure on rapidly increasing livestock prices, the economic downturn and the struggle competing with major supermarkets.

But they revealed they are in negotiations with a potential buyer to sell the abattoir in a bid to see it reopen.

Four full-time jobs and four part-time posts have been lost at the abattoir, along with three full-time and two part-time roles at the butcher's shop.

It leaves the ABP abattoirs at Ellesmere and at Battlefield in Shrewsbury as the only major slaughterhouses in Shropshire.

Officials at Daysdrove re-opened the abattoir in 2009, with a view to providing quality locally-sourced meat to shops and restaurants. But today directors admitted the project had failed.

One of the directors, who did not wish to be named, said: "Our scale of operation is simply too small to compete with the major retailers . . . We are disappointed for the shareholders, stock suppliers, customers and local people who valued our product and services.

"Livestock prices have increased dramatically over the past few years and due to the recession people don't have as much money in their pockets to spend on premium meat.

"We are going into voluntary liquidation and we will try and manage the situation to pay all our creditors. We are also endeavouring to sell the abattoir and are in dialogue with at least one prospective buyer."

John Mercer, regional director the NFU in the West Midlands, said: "It is a real shame."