FIRST Minister Alex Salmond hinted at the possible sale of the closure-threatened Hall's of Broxburn that could save at least some of the 1700 jobs under threat.

Mr Salmond gave "strong indications" during a two-hour visit with management and union representatives at the West Lothian plant that a sale of some of its operations was the best hope for workers.

The Herald understands the First Minister also sought detailed statistics about how the business, owned by Dutch firm Vion, could have operated with losses of nearly £80,000 a day – despite Scottish Government grants worth about £2 million being offered last year as it moved to expand and take on 250 new apprentices.

The company did not use that grant funding, but a 2009 grant of £85,000 to streamline work practices was utilised and cannot be clawed back in any eventuality.

The news came as it emerged the firm earlier this year invested £11.5m in a similar plant in Northern Ireland, creating hundreds of new jobs there.

The Scottish Government would not say yesterday whether Scottish Development International was actively marketing the Broxburn site overseas, or whether a Scottish farmers co-operative could take over the plant that processes three-quarters of Scotland's pig products and whose abattoir employs about 150.

Mr Salmond said: "This is obviously a very difficult time for all those whose livelihoods are tied up in this plant, from packers to pig producers. This has been a decision taken at European level by the company, but I want to be clear, I will travel anywhere and meet anyone to try to protect Scottish jobs.

"In my discussions today, I made clear that, together, we will explore all options for the future of the company and its business; provide support for the workforce; and mitigate any possible wider impacts.

"One early commitment from the company today has been that it will ensure all 14 people on modern apprenticeships or SVQ training will complete their training with Vion, ideally at the Broxburn site. This is one small step, but it is a positive step and there is much work to do."

Efforts will include whatever Government support is required, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said yesterday: "The UK Government will provide whatever help we can to support the efforts to protect the future of Hall's of Broxburn."

Vion Food revealed the Northern Ireland investment just months before Thursday's shock announcement. The firm is investing in equipment to increase capacity at its plant in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in a move set to create 164 jobs.

Labour MP Graeme Morrice said the Northern Irish investment was worrying and called for more to be done in Scotland.

He said: "This is very alarming to hear. The workforce in Broxburn is absolutely first-rate, and the whole operation is geared very much to processing the Scottish pig industry. Proximity between farms and the processors is very important to make it economically viable.

"I won't criticise the workforce in Northern Ireland or anywhere else, but the simple fact is we need Scottish processors for the Scottish pig industry."

Trade union Usdaw, which represents 800 workers at the Broxburn site, said the matter would be raised as part of the consultation process at Hall's.

Stewart Forrest, Usdaw's deputy Scottish divisional officer, said: "We were certainly not aware of this investment at another Vion site which we see as a mirror image of the Broxburn one. It was never discussed. We will be raising it as part of the consultation to see if this investment has had any implications on what has happened here."

The Cookstown plant employs more than 700 people and supplies customers such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda – stores which Hall's also supplies. It also produces similar products, including pork, sausages, bacon and cooked meats.

However, Vion last night denied there was any link between the investment and the potential closure at Broxburn.

A spokesman said: "The Cookstown investment that was announced in March this year is still planned to progress. It is not connected to Thursday's announcement."

The Cookstown site was bought from Grampian Country Foods, along with the Broxburn plant, in 2008. Last October it was reported profits at Vion Food Group, tripled in 2010.

Accounts filed at Companies House show pre-tax profits at the group, which has about 12,500 staff at 46 UK sites, jumped to £59.8m in 2010, when at that stage it was reported it had narrowed its annual operating losses at Broxburn to £12.4m from £19.5m.

The firm had laid off 830 staff in 2009, including 150 at Cambuslang.