The chicken processor could continue to expand the factory, if the current upgrade was successful, it said. The new cutting line formed part of 2 Sisters’ multi-million pound investment programme.
Coupar Angus general manager Russell Allan said: “We’ve seen significant investment in the site since 2 Sisters bought it, upgrading the chill line and changing the production lay out.
‘Great news’
“The expansion of the cutting operation is great news for the whole team at Coupar, and recognises the commitment and dedication of our loyal colleagues.”
The site will be able to supply more retail packed chicken portions after the extra workers are recruited, 2 Sisters said.
2 Sisters UK Poultry operations director Peter Judge said: “This is an exciting time for the team at Coupar and if the current expansion is successful then there is the scope for further growth.
“2 Sisters is in the midst of a multi-million pound programme to transform how poultry is processed in the UK.”
‘A multi-million pound programme’
The Coupar Angus facility is a slaughtering, cutting and whole bird packaging site. It produces whole chicken, smart price chicken, skin on/skinless Elmwood fillets, Standard welfare Elmwood, and free-range chicken.
The Perthshire investment came after 2 Sisters’ owner, Boparan Holdings, last month reported a 39% fall in like-for-like operating profit to £13.1M. It blamed bird flu and redundancy costs for the falling profit.
Boparan’s Protein division reported a 4.8% rise in like-for-like sales to £566.8M. The division was progressing well, although operating profit fell 25% to £6.7M, said 2 Sisters ceo Ranjit Boparan.
2 Sisters recent investments
- May – £10M at ready meals factory
- April – £5M at meat retailer
- January 2017 – 100 new jobs at Derby factory