Abattoir workers redeployed after fire

A meat processing company says hundreds of workers have been redeployed to its other plants after a large fire at its abattoir east of Adelaide.

More than 300 workers at an abattoir damaged by a major fire east of Adelaide have been deployed to new jobs within the meat processing company.

Thomas Foods International says 340 are now working in the company's Lobethal plant, in the Adelaide Hills, and another 70 positions will soon be made available there.

It says about 150 positions have also been made available at the company's Tamworth plant in NSW.

Another 90 staff continue to work at the Murray Bridge abattoir in areas that were unaffected by the multi-million-dollar blaze which tore through the boning rooms and storage facilities on January 3.

"Our company and people have been truly tested these past weeks but we are a resilient and determined team," chief executive Darren Thomas said in a statement on Wednesday.

"There are no easy solutions in a difficult situation such as this.

"To find new positions for the majority of our 900-strong permanent workforce so soon after the fire is testament to the outstanding efforts of everyone involved."

Before the fire, the Murray Bridge plant had a total workforce of about 1400 but it's understood that a number of them were contract or casual workers, including some employed on 417-holiday visas, who have since been dropped.

Mr Thomas said his company remained committed to rebuilding the abattoir but the process could take up to two years.

To cater for its customers it will double production at Lobethal and increase it by 20 per cent in Tamworth.

It will also continue to work with all its staff to help them transition to new positions, whether that be within Thomas Foods or with other local businesses.