The historic Scotbeef abattoir in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, has closed its doors for good, resulting in the loss of up to 90 jobs and marking the end of an era for the local meat processing industry.
The closure, which took effect on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, follows a comprehensive operational review by the company, which concluded that shutting the site was necessary to safeguard the long-term future of the wider business.
Scotbeef, a subsidiary of East Kilbride-based JW Galloway, cited sustained challenges in the UK meat and beef sector over the past 18 months as a key factor in the decision.
A company spokesperson stated: “Despite our best efforts to address the sustained challenges within the UK meat and beef industry over the past 18 months, we have unfortunately taken the difficult decision to close our Inverurie site.
“This follows a comprehensive operational review which concluded that closure is necessary to protect the long-term future of the business. Decisions such as these are never easy, and we understand that there will be a significant impact on our staff, many of whom have shown loyalty and commitment to the business over many years.
“A redundancy process is now under way, and we shall ensure that all affected employees are fully supported throughout this period.”
All staff at the Inverurie facility have been made redundant, with the company promising support during the transition.
The closure has been met with disappointment and frustration among workers, some of whom have attributed the shutdown to mismanagement. The loss of such a significant employer is expected to have a considerable impact on the local economy and community.
Industry and Regional Implications
Scotbeef continues to operate facilities in East Kilbride and Annan, as well as sites in England, but the closure of the Inverurie abattoir adds to a worrying trend of abattoir shutdowns across the UK.
The decline in local abattoirs has been described as a “growing problem” by farmers and industry experts, who warn that reduced processing capacity threatens the sustainability of local food supply chains and increases logistical challenges for livestock producers.
Plans for a new abattoir in the Inverurie area have been on hold for several years, with uncertainty stemming from the impacts of Covid-19, Brexit, and shifting market conditions. There is currently no confirmed timeline for any replacement facility.
Founded in 1920, Scotbeef has played a pivotal role in the Scottish red meat sector, including pioneering the introduction of the Aberdeen Angus brand to retail in 1993. The closure of the Inverurie site marks the end of more than a century of meat processing heritage in the region.
Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross said: “This closure is deeply concerning and is a blow to livestock farmers across the North East.
“Abattoirs such as that in Inverurie are crucial to the food supply chain and the wider agricultural sector.
“But across the country, they are being driven out of business at an alarming rate by rising costs, regulatory pressures and a drop in livestock numbers.
“There is also an immediate human impact of all this, and my thoughts go out to the employees at Inverurie whose jobs are at risk.
“If both of Scotland’s governments are serious about sustainability, rural jobs, and animal welfare, then more support needs to be given to abattoirs so they can survive these unprecedent challenges.”
As the redundancy process unfolds, attention now turns to the future of the site and the prospects for the affected workforce, as well as the broader implications for the Scottish and UK meat industry.
