Moy Park ramps up production after investment

14-May-2015 - Last updated on 15-May-2015 at 09:14 GMT

Moy Park reaches record output for the first time

Moy Park has ramped up its output to 5M chickens a week, following the announcement of a £170M expansion plan last year.

The poultry processor’s output has increased by 60% in the past six years, growing from approximately 3.1M birds per week in 2009, according to UK and Ireland director Alan Gibson.

An increased demand for locally sourced, high-quality chicken had been attributed to the record rise in output for the business, Gibson said.

“This is a significant milestone for Moy Park. The growth has been driven by demand from our customers and consumers who recognise Moy Park as a top quality, innovative and service-orientated business.”

Continue to invest

Moy Park, which is part of the Marfrig Group, has 14 sites across the UK, Ireland, Holland and France, would continue to invest in its processing facilities to ensure it could meet continued demand, he added.

“Our broiler expansion programme has been hugely successful adding to our farming estate, which is the most modern in the UK.

“This, coupled with our continued investment in our processing facilities, positions us positively for future growth,” Gibson claimed.

More than 600 new jobs had been created as a result of Moy Park’s £170M expansion across three sites in Northern Ireland, announced in July last year.

£9.5M investment

Additional processing lines and an innovation centre were created as a result of the investment, which received £9.5M from Invest Northern Ireland.

At the time, ceo Janet McCollum said: “Moy Park started as a small farming company in 1943 and has grown into a top UK business with a £1.5bn turnover.

“We continue to have big ambitions and this investment will allow us to further grow our operations and create new jobs in Northern Ireland.”

Marfrig Global Foods ceo, Sergio Rial, added: “We are committed to growing our operations in Northern Ireland and this investment, with support from Invest Northern Ireland, helps us to achieve that.

“We have had positive engagement with Northern Ireland Executive and have experienced a very pro-business attitude.”

Meanwhile, read an exclusive interview with Moy Park's Anwick factory manager Ben Carrigan.