Hilton Food Group to build £29M New Zealand factory
Hilton will construct a new meat processing facility in Auckland and supply New Zealand retailer Progressive Enterprises, a subsidiary of Australian supermarket chain Woolworths, trading as Countdown Supermarkets.
The new facility will supply Progressive stores in New Zealand with a range of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and added-value products.
The development will extend the existing site and is subject to government approvals and the negotiation and finalisation of construction and tenure agreements.
Production to start by 2020
Hilton Foods New Zealand plans to finance the new food packing facility, with production at the new factory to start by 2020.
The manufacturer’s expansion into New Zealand is the latest development in its international growth, which began with its joint venture with Woolworths in 2013.
Hilton’s New Zealand expansion follows plans to build a £5.5M (€6M) factory in Poland, after signing a five-year supply deal with Tesco to provide the supermarket with fresh food.
The factory will produce sandwiches, pizzas, soups and ready meals for the supermarket, with manufacturing expected to begin in the first quarter of 2019.
Joint venture
In January, Hilton agreed a joint venture to supply Portuguese retailer Sonae Modelo Continente, following a six-month period of cooperation between the two companies.
Commenting on the company’s half-year results last month, chief executive Robert Watson said Hilton’s sales had been boosted by volume growth overseas.
Watson added: “We remain committed to growing our business through innovation and product development as well as exploring a range of new expansion opportunities to further our geographic reach.”
Meanwhile, earlier this month, chilled food manufacturer Bakkavor submitted plans for a £20M extension of its factory in Nottinghamshire, with the potential to create up to 270 jobs.
