The Scottish First Minister today visited Fraserburgh's largest employer, Macrae, to mark completion of the first phase of a £2 million investment programme to upgrade its fish processing factory.

Macrae Fraserburgh, part of The Seafood Company, has a core staff of 550 and employs up to 800 staff during peak season, contributing more than £9 million to the local economy.

The company has now finished the £1 million refurbishment to its smoked fish facilities with a new kiln built on site and the addition of new loading bays. A further £1 million of upgrades to the site will be made over the next two years.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Macrae Fraserburgh has a vital role within the local economy.

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"The company's continued growth, investment and employment in Fraserburgh brings significant benefits to the North East economy. It is the area's largest employer and contributes more than £9 million to the Scottish economy.

"The £2 million upgrade of the factory will provide better facilities for the 800 staff working at the seafood factory and enable even greater outturn of produce."

Iain Herd, managing director of Macrae Fraserburgh, said: "This investment is part of an ongoing programme to shape our business for future growth, improving our processing capacity and building on what is a very strong existing operation.

"The Fraserburgh factory plays an important role in the Scottish and local economy, buying around £43 million worth of fish every year from Scotland and at peak times, such as now in the run-up to Christmas, employing over 800 staff, an additional 250 staff on our year-round operation."

The 220,000 sq ft factory sells retailer brands to the UK's key supermarket chains.

It contributes £9 million to the local economy and buys around £43 million worth of fish every year from Scotland. This rises to £125 million across its parent company, The Seafood Company.

Macrae Fraserburgh was founded in 1965. In 2004 it was purchased by Capvest and in 2007 became part of what is today The Findus Group, parent company of The Seafood Company, Young's Seafood and Findus.

(GK/BMcC)