Moy Park has completed a £20 million investment in a state-of-the-art hatchery at Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, creating 55 new jobs in the area.
The poultry producer said the new facility will supply 60 farms across Lincolnshire and is “one of the first of its kind in Europe and hatches 2.5 million chicks per week, making it the largest single-build hatchery in the UK”.
Last September, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation acquired Northern Ireland-based Moy Park from JBS for £1 billion.
Brazil’s JBS had bought Moy Park in 2015 from Marfrig Global Foods in a deal worth approximately $1.5bn.
Moy Park said the new hatchery will use the latest automation techniques and energy efficient equipment to cut electrical energy usage by 25%.
Announcing the opening, Moy Park director of agriculture David Gibson said: “This significant investment has created a world-class hatchery and will ensure Moy Park is well equipped to meet demand for locally sourced, high-quality poultry products.
“With technologically advanced equipment and a focus on the highest standards of biosecurity, our Newark hatchery embodies our commitment to agricultural and operational excellence.”
This latest announcement forms part of Moy Park’s wider growth strategy, which has seen the company make significant investments across its integrated farming and processing facilities in the UK.
Overall, the firm processes 5.7 million birds per week and has 13 processing plants located in the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, supplying major food retailers and restaurant chains in the UK and Europe.
Moy Park chief executive Janet McCollum added: “Over the last number of years, we have strengthened our production capabilities and together with our network of 800 dedicated farming partners across the UK, we have continued to develop our agriculture estate.
“This latest announcement builds on that success and ensures that Moy Park continues to meet the evolving needs of customers and consumers.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024