Fishers has confirmed that its Perth laundry will close with immediate effect – resulting in up to 84 redundancies.

The Inveralmond Industrial Estate site has been mothballed during the COVID-19 outbreak and a period of consultation with staff took place.

During the consultation period, Fishers say their management team examined a range of options in an effort to avoid closure, including a number of suggestions from its Perth staff.

Managing director of the textile rental and commercial laundry company, Michael Jones, said “every stone” had been turned over in an attempt to avoid the closure.

“This has been an incredibly hard decision, closing a good laundry and losing great people, many with long service,” Jones said.

“We have turned over every stone looking for alternatives, but we have to be prepared for uncertain times ahead.

“We are working very hard to have our Cupar and Glasgow laundries ready to ramp up production, with safe distancing and increased hygiene measures in place, in time for the re-opening of hotels.”

Assistant engineer Gavin Fowler, who had worked for Fishers for 25 years, described the closing of the company’s Perth base as “heartbreaking” earlier this month.

The company began in Aberfeldy over 100 years ago and has built up several commercial laundry plants across Scotland.

Fishers will now consolidate its Scottish hospitality business into its Cupar and Glasgow laundries.