A consumer trend for buying more whole chicken has been blamed by 2 Sisters for a restructure that could leave 95 staff out of work.

The headcount is set to be reduced at the processor's primary and cutting division in Letham, near Forfar. Not enough whole birds were being supplied from Scottish farms to meet a recessionary move away from portions to whole birds, said a spokesman. The restructure puts staff levels back to where they were before 2 Sisters acquired the plant in 2007.

Local councils needed to be more sympathetic towards farmer applications for new chicken houses, he added, as this was slowing industry growth.

Meanwhile 2 Sisters said it would not reopen its Morecambe factory following last month's fire, leaving up to 162 staff redundant. A structural assessment deemed it a write-off and production has been moved.