February 11, 2013

Plans for a major GBP20 million (US$32 million) investment in its Grantham food processing site in Lincolnshire was announced by Moy Park.

The proposed investment will see a new state-of-the-art convenience foods facility being built within the company's Grantham site, creating over 150 additional jobs. The site currently employs about 700 staff, specialising in coated poultry products.

"This proposed new development will transform our Grantham site into one of the most efficient operations of its kind in the UK and Europe," said chief executive Nigel Dunlop. "It will allow us to continue to grow in line with market opportunities."

Moy Park also plans to consolidate its Grantham and Wisbech convenience foods operations to deliver a more streamlined structure for the business. Wisbech will be repositioned as a cooked sliced meat facility.

"We are commencing consultation with all the affected staff regarding these proposed changes. If the proposal is confirmed the affected employees will be offered a guaranteed option of full redeployment to other manufacturing sites within the group."

Plans for the new facility at Grantham would see capacity increase by over 25%, with an emphasis on product innovation.