Westway expands by 75%

Westaway Sausages has completed an extension to its production facility at Newton Abbot in Devon, which is expected to enhance food safety, improved hygiene standards while boosting capacity by 75%.

The Kingsteignton-based sausage maker has invested £500,000 in new refrigeration and production equipment and a more efficient plant layout. One of the main features of this project has been the installation of a new high-speed production line, capable of producing an additional 2,400 packs of sausages an hour.

Westaway Sausages md Charles Baughan said: "We identified that food safety is a key driver for our customers and that it therefore needs to be at the heart of everything we do. As part of this strategy we have reviewed how we handle, prepare and store our sausages and other products.

"Our exploration into this important area has led us to invest significantly, not only in new equipment but also in using more hot water for routine cleaning, plus staff training in food safety."

The firm has appointed a 'hygiene czar' to implement processes to ensure even higher standards of cleanliness in handling and processing.