The once-struggling U.K. turkey company Bernard Matthews is signalling it is back on track and ready to take the business to the next level after gaining a substantial amount of business.
A new supply agreement with a major supermarket chain calls for Bernard Matthews to supply cooked chicken from its site at Great Witchingham, Suffolk, will create an extra 400 jobs from the site.
The site has already received substantial investment since it was bought by new owners in 2016, with further investments planned at its Holton site in the next few years.
The business is currently recruiting for the roles which range from factory management, to supervisors, skilled operatives and process workers. The roles are not seasonal, and the all-year-round opportunities offered can be either Mondays to Fridays or weekend shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, offering flexibility for potential new recruits.
Chris Just, managing director of Bernard Matthews, said: “This is an exciting development for the business and demonstrates that Bernard Matthews has turned the corner. What’s great is that we have the ability to expand our capabilities and offer a cooked poultry product which is in such great demand.
“It is likely because of the scale of this new opportunity that we’re going to have to be innovative in the way we work and extend operations so we can fulfil orders. We’re delighted that the company has this opportunity and we can accordingly invest in the local and regional economy by providing new jobs and bringing about the associated opportunities that come with it from a supply chain and supplier perspective.”
The human resources and recruitment teams will be working with a number of organizations to fill the vacancies, including local job centers.
Andrew Sherwood, human resources director at Bernard Matthews, said: “It is fantastic for the site and community, we are looking forward to expanding and offering local people jobs. There are lots of opportunities for people with the right attitude and talent to progress within the business and development a great career here.”
