Dawnfresh Fights Back.

In mid-July the Lanarkshire Dawnfresh Seafoods' [pounds]10m. factory was virtually destroyed by fire, and management and staff worked virtually non stop to ensure that customers suffered minimal disruption. At the time of the fire, just nine employees were onsite and they were safely evacuated.

Fortunately, the company had stocks of raw materials in other coldstores and is continuing to buy fish from the dockside and immediately began to arrange subcontracts with other companies in the trade.

Some of the personnel were allowed to work from other company's premises, so that fresh shellfish could be packed and delivered to customers without any break in supply. Two other factories in Bellshill were leased and upgraded so that processing could begin as soon as possible.

A project team was then brought together to design the new factory and thought was been given to use of new sandwich panels, to ensure there is no repeat incident.

Freezing facilities for scampi and a fresh shellfish packing unit were in operation within days and the two upgraded factories were used as a centre for peeling shellfish.

Because even the foundations of their Bothwell Park factory have been condemned, the project team is already working on its replacement and the company's chairman, Alastair Salvesen, tell us that plans are being completed and the aim is to have a new factory up-and-running by the Autumn of next year.