Hundreds of Linden Foods Jobs Threatened at Dungannon Packing Facility

ABP said it has entered a formal consultation process with 338 employees at the site, which is located at the Granville Industrial Estate. Linden Foods processes and manufactures beef, lamb, pork and chicken for branded and own-label products. An ABP spokesperson said the move was “a very difficult step” but cited mounting pressures in the meat industry. “We are facing a challenging and changing UK and global marketplace for beef and lamb,” the spokesperson said. “Streamlining our operations is a necessity to achieve operational efficiencies, maintain our competitiveness and strengthen our business for the long term.” The company said it would seek to “minimise the impact on those who are affected”, including through redeployment where possible. In a statement, ABP added: “Changes in the UK landscape have led to the difficult but necessary requirement to consolidate and reduce the number of our retail packing facilities situated within the UK including Northern Ireland.” ABP confirmed that jobs at its separate cattle and sheep processing facility, also located within the Granville Industrial Estate, will not be affected. The company’s sites in Lurgan and Newry, along with Kettyle Irish Foods in Lisnaskea, are also unaffected. Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew said: “This news will come as a shock to the workers at this retail packing facility, and my thoughts are with them and their families. News catch up - Tuesday 20th January “I would urge the company to do all it can to retain as many jobs as possible, including redeployment. It must also support those workers made redundant with retraining or re-skilling. “I will be engaging with the company in the time ahead and would urge its management to ensure proper communication with employees and trade unions.” The UUP’s Diana Armstrong also said the news was “extremely bad” and the factory was vital to the local economy. "I am deeply concerned by the announcement from ABP Foods that 338 redundancies are to be made at its meat retail packing facility in Dungannon,” she said. "This is extremely bad news this evening for hundreds of workers and for many, many homes across our community. My thoughts are with all those affected and with their families, particularly coming so soon after Christmas, when household finances are already under significant pressure. "These are skilled workers who now face enormous uncertainty. For many families, this announcement will cause real anxiety about how they will make ends meet in the weeks and months ahead. There is also the very real prospect that some people may be forced to travel further afield or even relocate to find alternative employment, which brings additional financial and personal strain. "The agri-food sector is absolutely vital to our local economy and to Northern Ireland as a whole. It is therefore essential that those affected by this decision receive immediate and practical support. This must include access to emergency assistance, retraining opportunities, and clear pathways into alternative employment where possible. "I am calling on the Economy Minister to urgently engage with ABP Foods, trade unions, and relevant agencies to ensure that all available support is put in place without delay. Supporting the agri-food sector and maintaining regional balance is a stated priority, and now is the time for that commitment to be demonstrated in real and tangible ways for workers who are facing redundancy. "This is a very worrying development for the Dungannon and South Tyrone area and I will continue to monitor the situation closely and will do everything possible to support those impacted during this deeply difficult time." ABP said consultation with staff is now under way.