French boss flies in for fish firm launch
A DINGWALL salmon company opened a new plant today (Wed), the latest move in an expansion which has seen its turnover leap from £5m to £37m in five years.
The Edinburgh Salmon Company Ltd (ESCo) has built a new raw fish at its factory on the Dingwall Business Park to meet demand from major retailers including Asda.
The company, which employs around 300 people, was bought over in April by French concern MerInvest and whose director general, Gilles Charpentier, attended the opening.
To mark the launch of the new facility, 24 youngsters, the children of ESCo employees, cut the ribbon along with a senior executive from Asda, Elaine Robinson.
Workers and their families enjoyed a morning of fun and games with a clown and a face-painter keeping the children amused.
Elaine Robinson, along with 14-month-old twin boys Oliver and Robert Leslie, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the event. Oliver and Robert are the children of departmental manager Russell Leslie who joined ESCo as an operative in 1995 and will now manage the team in the raw fish plant.
Colin Burke, managing director of ESCo said: "The opening of this new facility is a very important occasion for ESCo, its employees and customers and of course our new French owners.
"Over the last five years, we have been in a period of constant substantial growth, from £8m to £37m turnover, and this new facility will enable ESCo to fulfil its future strategic goals."
Mr Burke said ESCo was a significant employer in the Dingwall area and the investment in the new facility reflected the company’s commitment to achieving growth and product development.
David Ralph, factory manager at ESCo, said: "The new raw fish facility will enable the business to become far more efficient and release capacity in the factory therefore enabling ESCo to grow further the overall fish category."
Elaine Robinson of Asda said: "I am delighted to support the opening. ESCo are an important strategic partner to Asda and this new facility will enable us to grow further together."
