Food Industry Jobs Warmly Welcomed

There's plenty of 'food for thought' today in Co Tyrone with new jobs on the way.

Two food companies in Dungannon are expanding, creating over 140 new jobs.

McGee butchers will take over the running of an Asda in-store butchery counter in west Belfast which will translate to 100 new posts and Dunbia, a meat supplier, has bought a pork processing company which created 92 new jobs, 44 of which are in Dungannon.

Commenting, the Fermanagh & South Tyrone UUP MLA, Tom Elliott, said the food industry is the backbone of the local economy.

"I pay tribute to both these firms on their initiative and is an example to other firms on what can be achieved by forward thinking and drive," he said.

Dunbia bought Cullybackey pork processing company Stevenson & Co in January 2009, which was facing closure and the loss of 100 jobs.

But, over the last six months the company increased its workforce in both the Ballymena and Dungannon plants, with Mr Elliot welcoming the partnership between McGee and Asda which will give shoppers access to locally produced goods.

"These are both very positive and forward looking developments and by creating partnerships with local farmers and major retailers, even more jobs could be created in the district in the future," Mr Elliot added.

Meanwhile, the SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher has welcomed the creation of 44 new jobs in the Dungannon food industry: "These jobs at the Dunbia plant are to be warmly welcomed.

"The local food industry needs to be sustained through the current difficult period and this is a pick-up for those who are fighting hard to keep jobs and the industry going in rural areas," he said, commenting that this news also comes at the same time another local company, McGee Butchers, created 100 new jobs in west Belfast.

"Although the jobs were created in another area, the development strengthens a local company's future in the Dungannon area," he continued.

However, it also emerged today that an engineering company is to shed 69 posts at its plant in Newtownabbey.

Schlumberger, which makes equipment for the oil industry, said it did not know how many people faced redundancy.

The company, which currently employs 300 people at the Co Antrim factory, said the cuts were because of reduced activity in the oilfield services sector.

A spokesperson said staff were told of the cuts in July and that redundancies would come into affect in September.

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has said the loss of 69 jobs at a factory in Mallusk is a blow to the local employment sector.

"It's regrettable the Schlumberger plant has decided the best way to handle the economic difficulties is to shed further jobs.

"This is a tough pill to swallow for the local employment sector which relies heavily on the manufacturing industry and has already experienced its fair share of redundancies from the recession.

"The latest lay-offs come into affect in September, a time which can prove as costly for households as Christmas, with children going back to school, and I hope those affected will be able to find further employment," he said.

(BMcC/KMcA)