Silver Fern Farms is selling its Silverstream lamb boning plant.
The plant, which processes and packages lamb products from other Silver Fern Farms plants, is
being acquired by Christchurch-based Scales Corp for an undisclosed price, Silver Fern Farms said in a statement.
Polarcold Stores Limited, which is part of the Scales Corp, will operate the cold stores on the site.
Up to 300 people work at the North Taieri plant in the peak of the season. Workers were called to a meeting this afternoon to be told of the sale.
Silver Fern Farms said the move, which involves a partial leaseback, would result in a “scaling back of certain operations”.
“This will result in a reduction in permanent staff required on the site and will also mean the company will be looking for a lower number of replacement process workers in the coming season,” the statement said.
This is a blow to the workers and the Dunedin community. It comes on top of other recent large scale job losses including 138 at SFF’s Burnside venison plant.
Posted by homepaddock 
Homepaddock 