The new business meant the site, which handles fresh birds, would be operating at full capacity for the first time in six years, according to reports.
The company – one of the region’s largest employers – said it had seen demand for its all-year-round business continue to grow, and as a result planned to open its south site operation permanently.
“We are delighted to be announcing the creation of these 90 new roles, which is not only good for the business it’s also great news for the local economy,” said Rob Burnett, ceo of Bernard Matthews, who joined the business on June 30 2014 from Hain Daniels Group.
‘Growing demand’
“Over the last few years we have set ourselves the challenge of returning to profitability and a key part of this is growing the demand for our products all year round – not simply at Christmas.
“This strategy has begun to bear fruit and we will be effectively and profitably utilising the capacity at our Great Witchingham site.”
Bernard Matthews employs 1,850 people across Norfolk and Suffolk, producing branded and own-label poultry products for the UK’s leading grocery retailers and foodservice operators.
Setbacks
The company has worked hard to overcome setbacks in 2013 including soaring poultry feed prices squeezing profitability and a bird flu outbreak at one of its farms in Suffolk.
It rears more than seven million turkeys a year at farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire and operates two main production units in East Anglia.
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