MSPs have called for plans to close a seafood plant in Annan to be put on hold after its parent company was put up for sale.
Young's Seafood has started consultation on moving production from the Pinneys of Scotland site to Grimsby.
However, it has now emerged that the parent company is looking for a buyer.
Labour's Colin Smyth and the SNP's Joan McAlpine said that meant the whole process in Annan should be halted.
High level talks are being held to try to save hundreds of jobs at the plant.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Enterprise Minister Paul Wheelhouse are having discussions with management.
Mr Smyth - who is also holding talks - said the latest developments put the situation in a new light.
"The company should call an immediate halt to any plans to close Pinneys as they have no idea what any potential new owners of Young's may wish to do with the site," he said.
"It may well be that they will want to retain Pinneys and the workforce and Young's should not be making any decisions until that is clear.
"To do so would simply show further contempt by Young's of a workforce and community that have been treated appallingly by the company."
Ms McAlpine also said that the proposals to shut the site should now be halted.
"It is imperative that the closure plans are put on hold so that the consultation can run its course, and so that the action group has the chance to talk to the new owners of the plant," she said.
Talks are ongoing with management on the site about the fate of the plant.
Mr Mundell said he was "absolutely determined" to keep the factory operating while Mr Wheelhouse said he would leave "no stone unturned" to try to find a solution.
The company has pledged to work closely with staff and engage in "meaningful consultation" before any final decision is made.
It stressed developments at the site were no reflection on the "committed and skilled teams" at the plant.
Young's Seafood has been put up for sale.
The company has about 1,700 members of staff in Grimsby at its headquarters, product development and manufacturing sites, and about 2,000 in Scotland.
A spokesman said it is the town's biggest private employer and the UK's leading seafood supplier.
Dave Monaghan, from Unite the union, said the announcement has been in the pipeline for two years and "comes as no surprise".
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A Young's spokesman said: "We intend to start a structured and open bidding process with all interested parties."
The company has a turnover of more than £500m and also has five sites in Scotland employing nearly 2,000 people.
Talks are currently being held to try to save hundreds of jobs at a closure-threatened seafood plant in Annan, south west Scotland.
Mr Monaghan said: "We would hope any further investor comes from the fish and food processing industry, time will tell.
"And that whoever purchases the business will maintain investment in the Grimsby area."
The company has been in business for more than 200 years and based in the northern Lincolnshire port for more than 50 years.
The formal notice of sale was issued at 09:00 BST by the board of managers of current owner Lion/Gem Luxembourg.
There is no timescale for the bid but creditors are to be kept informed, said the announcement.
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