March 28, 2007

Top Australian poultry integrator looks south

Inghams Enterprises, the largest poultry integrator in Australia, has identified South Australia as a future state of growth, the company's finance manager, John Needs said.

The company had initially targeted New South Wales for expansion but selected South Australia for its lower cost base and supportive state policies.

According to Inghams', the company plans to employ 200 staff for its new AUS$130 million Edinburgh Parks plant within two years, and has long-term plans to boost employment at its Bolivar plant by 300 staff within five years.

The company also plans to extend its Monarto-based hatchery and Mile End feedmill production facilities to boost the company's weekly throughput from 500,000 chickens to about 1.2 million chickens.

Inghams has over 7,000 employees operating in all states in Australia.

Its businesses include a fully integrated farm system, primary and further processing poultry business (operating ten feedmills, ten primary plants and six further processing plants) a diversified stockfeed business, a piggery operation and a stockbreeding section.