Hauliers wait for Kepak's decision
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by Karen Miles • Hauliers hit by the collapse of one of Scotland's largest slaughter houses are waiting to learn the outcome of the new owner's review of the company's transport of meat.
Dublin-based Kepak, which expects this week to complete its purchase of stricken Turriffbased Buchan Meat Producers, says that it expects to hold an examination of its livestock and refrigerated transport by the end of the month.
Buchan employed a small number of hauliers for the yearly transport of around 600,000 live and dead animals—with around 20°.o exported to mainland Europe—and encouraged subcontractors to use the Buchan livery on their vehicles and trailers. The company operated only one lorry itself.
One of the main hauliers used by the Aberdeenshire-based abattoir, Bonaccord Transport of Port Lethen, is not commenting on Buchan's liquidation.
Refrigerated operators Henry Thomson of Aberdeenshire and Grampian-based Gibbs Transport both confirm they are owed thousands of pounds by Buchan.
Thomson says it is owed £10,000 and Gibbs, which had committed a third of its fleet to Buchan, has already reduced its workforce by five.
Meanwhile liquidators Ernst & Young says creditors may eventually receive a small dividend but that they will receive more information at the creditors meeting on 13 March.