Unichips closes Highlander crisps factory in Scotland
Key takeaways
- Highlander plant at Bathgate closed on 31 July
- 28 jobs lost at closure
- Peak employment was around 150
- Owner Unichips cites falling demand
- Staff report five years of declining sales
Why it matters
- For processors
- A branded crisp line falling below viability after five years of declining sales — the closure is demand-driven rather than a capacity or cost event.
60-second summary
The Highlander crisps plant at Bathgate in West Lothian closed on 31 July with the loss of 28 jobs. Italian owner Unichips SpA put the closure down to a slump in demand for the Highlander brand. The site once employed around 150 people, and staff say sales have fallen steadily over the past five years, leaving the factory unviable for the Milan-based company. The brand has a long history in the area: it was set up by Forth Valley Foods after the Golden Wonder plant at Broxburn closed 26 years ago, went into receivership in 1991 and was relaunched by Unichips as Highlander Snacks. Redundancy payments are to be made in full.
The Highlander crisps plant at Bathgate, West Lothian, closed on July 31 with the loss of 28 jobs.
The Italian parent company, Unichips SpA, said it was closing the factory due to a slump in demand for the Highlander brand.
At its peak, the Highlander factory employed around 150 people.
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But staff say they have seen sales of the crisps plummet over the past five years, making the factory unviable for the Milan-based firm.
Highlander Crisps was originally set up by Forth Valley Foods after the demise of the Golden Wonder plant in Broxburn 26 years ago.
After the company entered receivership in 1991, it was relaunched as Highlander Snacks by Unichips.
One staff member said: “For the past five years, the sales of the crisps have fallen fast and we knew there would be something to come from it.
“The Italian bosses came over about a month or two ago and said they had plans of closing it, but we have now got it in writing that it’s definitely closing.”
A spokesman for Unichips said: “Highlander looked at ways of avoiding having to close the factory but no solutions could be found.
“They have gone through all correct procedures and people will get the redundancy money that is due to them.”
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