Grampian Holdings is to rescue at least 25 jobs at Grangemouth in a #1.5m deal to buy a 23-acre site formerly operated by Currie Line, the shipping group.
But another 25 jobs in Currie Line's former road haulage operation are likely to be lost, after a potential purchaser for the business pulled out.
The distribution site has 130,000sq ft of warehousing, two office blocks, and the potential for a direct rail link and a further 300,000sq ft of warehousing. It has been bought by Grampian from the receiver, Ian Watters of Arthur Andersen, who was called in six months ago when Currie Line collapsed with debts of #10m.
The shipping business was bought immediately by Forth Ports, but a spokesman for Arthur Andersen said last night that the road haulage operations, which had been run as a going concern by the receiver since February, were now likely to be wound down. As contracts ended, 20 drivers and six administrative staff stood to lose their jobs. ''There may be other purchasers waiting in the wings, but it is unfortunate.''
Grampian's transport division, trading as WH Malcolm, employs 900 and had a turnover last year of #49m, or a quarter of the holding company's business shorn of its pharmaceuticals division which was sold last month. It operates over two million square feet of warehousing in a distribution network which currently extends as far south as Yorkshire and Lancashire.
David MacGibbon, group finance director, said: ''We indicated to shareholders last month that it was our intention to develop our two principal businesses, retail and transport.''
The acquisition met the strategic objective, and would not only help meet the growing requirements of existing customers but would also attract new business.
Mr MacGibbon said Grampian had already been renting some of the warehouse space from Currie Line. ''We saw a lot of potential two-way traffic. We do have the potential, assuming the business is there and there is no reason to believe it won't be, to build another 300,000sq ft. If we do double in size, that could be good news for the local area.''
WH Malcolm has been a backbone of the mini-conglomerate since the 60s, and has grown by specialising in markets such as the movement of glass bottles, for glass manufacturers and drinks companies, and bulk paper. It operates chiefly in the west of Scotland, but more recently acquired a depot at Newhouse close to the M8.
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