150 Wrexham poultry plant jobs cleared

Maelor Poultry, part of Salisbury Poultry, will operate the site at Cross Lanes, and now aims to pump £10M into the factory to kit it out with the latest equipment.

According to planning documents, the company aims to process 400,000 birds a week and 122t of poultry meat each day.

More than 150 jobs would be available at the site once it was fully operational, consisting of 50 skilled and administrative personnel and more than 100 production operatives, said Salisbury Poultry. It would recruit workers from the local area, it said. It expected the opening of the new operation to be within 12-18 months.

Objections​

Objections to the facility were raised on the grounds that it would harm the business of rival poultry meat suppliers in the area, because there was insufficient demand for all local competitors.

In addition, Wrexham council’s planning committee heard concerns about the potential of the factory to generate unpleasant odours and cause traffic congestion.

However, councillors were reassured that the company had a full odour management proposal in place, using the latest technology.

They also heard that demand for poultry meat was increasing, with more than 20 new poultry sites within a 20 mile radius of Maelor Poultry’s venture either approved or pending.

The plant has the backing of the Welsh government. Councillor David Bithell called it “a fantastic investment for Wrexham” ​at the planning meeting on March 2, when approval was given.

‘Major project’​

Commercial director of Salisbury Poultry, Stephen Hammond, said: “We are delighted to have the support and approval of the council to go ahead with this major project that will bring a £10m investment and 150 plus jobs to Wrexham and the surrounding area, as well as more jobs in the supply chain that will be needed to support our venture.​

“We are very much looking forward to becoming part of the business community of north Wales.”​

The former cheese packing site has remained inoperative since it was closed last March after First Milk lost a major contract with supermarket chain Asda, representing 60% of the factory’s production. A total of 230 workers lost their jobs there as a result of the move.

Plans to transform the facility were initially revealed last October by Salisbury Poultry, which currently employs 400 staff and boasts an annual turnover in excess of £70M.

The former cheese packing site has remained inoperative since it was closed last March after First Milk lost a major contract with supermarket chain Asda, representing 60% of the factory’s production. A total of 231 workers lost their jobs there as a result of the move​.

Maelor Poultry’s plans to transform the facility were initially revealed last October​.

Meanwhile, for the latest jobs in food and drink manufacturing visit FoodManJobs​.