ONE of Greenock’s best known businesses is today counting the full cost of a ferocious fire that has caused ‘millions of pounds’ worth of damage.

Inverclyde was brought to a standstill yesterday after fire crews spent the whole day tackling the major blaze which had broken out at the McKechnie Jess meat factory on the A8 at Port Glasgow Road around 3am on Wednesday morning.

The main road stayed shut in both directions until 3am this morning as fire crews battled for hours to bring the fire under control.

But the misery for motorists does not compare to the anguish of the Jess family, who have seen their premises go up in smoke. 

David Jess, managing director at McKechnie Jess, is devastated by what has happened but says he is determined to bounce back as quickly as possible.

He told the Telegraph: “I was notified at about 3.50am yesterday. I’m still absolutely shellshocked. The building looks as if it has been totally destroyed.”

Such was the ferocity of the blaze that around 35 firefighters from six appliances were drafted in to deal with it.

Mr Jess says a probe is already under way into the cause of the fire, as his team tries to pick up the pieces, protect the workforce and serve customers.

He said: “There is no indication of the cause of the fire. The fire brigade will be sending in an investigation team and our own insurance team will also be investigating too.”

Mr Jess says the blaze has caused millions of pounds worth of damage.

He said: “Between the stock, the building and the machinery, it will be millions of pounds in damage. One machine alone costs £150,000 and we have several of them.”

The factory employs 50 people and some of them have been immediately redeployed to work at a sister plant.

He said: “We have another factory in Twechar near Cumbernauld, and some of the staff are being ferried up to work the nightshift there. Longer term we are looking at making that a 24/7 operation to accommodate our workforce and customers.

“We are working very closely with our staff, they are our priority. I’m very conscious of their fears, but we will keep them up-to-date and communicate with them throughout this time.”

Mr Jess and his team are also working closely with their suppliers and customers.

He said: “We have a contingency team set up and they are working out these hurdles.”

Asked what will happen next, Mr Jess said: “To be honest, I’ll be better placed to know that later this week.

“But we are confident that we will be back to normal by early next week if not for all then for most of our customers.”
Mr Jess praised people for their help and support.

He said: “I would like to thank both Councillor David Wilson and Aubrey Fawcett, the chief executive of Inverclyde Council, for their help and support. I also want to thank the fire crews from Milngavie, Paisley and Greenock and Greenock police for their assistance.”

McKechnie Jess is part of the AP Jess Scottish Food Group which includes five companies in total.

It was formed in 1988 by merging the manufacturing arm of A P Jess Scottish Food Group and well respected wholesale and manufacturing butcher Allan McKechnie & Co, who set it up in 1848.

As a result of yesterday’s fire, Inverclyde was gridlocked as the main road was closed in both directions all day long.

The busy route was shut between Gibshill Road and Bogston, causing massive tailbacks and long delays for motorists and buses, with some motorists caught in traffic for periods of up to three hours.

The A8 partially reopened this morning with a contraflow in place.

As the Tele went to press, traffic was running in both directions on the westbound carriageway.

Traffic Scotland said the eastbound carriageway would remain closed ‘until further notice’.