In November 2018 previous owners Skretting announced plans to cease UK manufacturing activities, and closed the Invergordon facility at the end of April 2019.
Canadian family-owned company Cooke Inc. acquired the Invergordon site in September 2019 and through its subsidiary Northeast Nutrition Scotland, has worked closely with former employees who were affected by the closure to resume operations at the mill.
The company revealed production of fish feed restarted in January 2020 with the first batch rolling off the production lines and delivered within four months of Cooke acquiring the plant.
Northeast Nutrition Scotland has re-hired 22 people, most of whom were made redundant when the mill closed last year.
The Cooke family of companies is committed to minimising the impacts of its business on the environment and to respecting the needs of all users of our shared resources while producing safe, wholesome, quality and nutritious seafood products which consistently meet the expectations of our customers.
Northeast Nutrition Scotland Limited will utilise MSC sustainably sourced fishery products which carry the Marine Stewardship Council’s iconic blue checkmark, signalling that they come from a healthy, sustainable fishery.
Fisheries that are MSC certified are recognised as some of the best managed in the world.
The mill has achieved Label Rouge and Organic accreditations, and has full flexibility to produce feed for seawater and freshwater sites, across its three production lines.
The mill will supply feed to Scottish salmon farms in Orkney and Shetland owned and operated by sister company Cooke Aquaculture Scotland.
Northeast Nutrition Scotland will also seek to develop new supply chain opportunities within the UK and global aquaculture sector.
Chris Bryden, Invergordon Mill Manager said:
“This is a milestone moment for the company. To get the mill operational within four months is testament to the skill and experience of the people who work for us.
“We are really pleased to have been able to re-hire so many of the people who lost their jobs when the plant closed last year- their knowledge and commitment is what will enable us to rebuild the business and secure its future.
“Now that we are back up and running, I am confident that we will grow the supply chain and meet the nutritional needs of our customers with top quality feed.
“We are extremely grateful for the sustained support we have received from local people, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Gail Ross MSP and hope to build on these links to ensure a bright future for the plant.”
Cooke’s commitment to sustainably sourced feed ingredients, ongoing improvements to feed formulations and innovations in feed delivery allow the company to produce healthy fish for its customers.
