The fire damage at a Co Longford petfood plant - employing 500 people - is said to be worse than at first thought. Staff are facing the possibility of being - at least temporarily - laid off.
The Longford Chamber of Commerce says the fire at the C&D plant in Edgeworthstown overnight could indirectly affect up to 50 local businesses.
The managing director of C&D, Philip Reynolds said the company had major decisions to make about the future of over 500 employees. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
The C&D food company is owned by the Reynolds family. It is the largest supplier of own label pet food in Ireland and the UK, manufacturing 180 million cans and 160 million foil and pouch products a year, with an annual turnover of €100m.
