Formal tenders are to be sought from operators wishing to run the island’s abattoir or to provide equivalent services from alternative premises in the Isle of Man.

The Tromode facility, called the ’meat plant’ by the government, is currently run by Isle of Man Meats, a cooperative of farmers, and makes a loss, so it’s subsidised by the taxpayer to the tune of £1.3m last year.

The government hopes a private operator will make it more competitive and save public money.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’During the month-long process of establishing levels of interest, seven parties came forward and we have interviewed all of them.

’It is heartening that there is sufficient interest to warrant us moving to the next stage of the process, which is to invite formal tenders, and that will happen as soon as possible.

’Tenderers will be expected to present strong business cases and marketing plans and commit to standards of service.’

The Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture hopes to complete the process of appointing a new operator by the end of this year.

In the interim, it will continue to financially support the current operation of the plant.

The proposal to seek a private operator emerged from a steering group that considered an industry expert’s report on ways of making the plant more profitable.

The steering group comprised the DEFA, Isle of Man Meats, the Manx National Farmers’ Union and the Agricultural Marketing Society.

The proposal was presented to the agriculture industry at a meeting in February.

The DEFA told the meeting that an on-island meat processing facility was a strategic asset for farming and the food industry.

The number of animals slaughtered at the plant has fallen and local sales have dropped too.

The government hopes that situation will be reversed by a commercial operator.