Moy Park has proposed the closure of its poultry complex in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, U.K., and consolidating those operations into other company sites.
In a statement emailed to WATT Global Media, Moy Park said the company had been making ongoing investments in its facilities over the past several years that led to enhanced efficiencies. As a result, Moy Park is “now in a position to move its fresh primary operations from a four-factory processing model to a three-factory model,” with the Ashbourne site identified as the site to close.
Under the proposed plan, the company facilities, in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and Anwick, Lincolnshire, would absorb the production now done in Ashbourne and have the capacity to potentially grow in the future.
Moy Park officials are consulting at the staff at the Ashbourne plant, hatchery and logistics operation regarding the proposed changes.
“Whilst this is difficult news for all the affected employees, this has no reflection on their dedication or commitment to the business. We will be working closely to provide support to employees at the site and in our supply chain impacted by this proposed changes,” the company said in a statement. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to customers and these proposed changes will ensure the business is best positioned for future growth.”
The decision follows an expansion project that involved a GBP10 million (US$15.1 million at the time) investment in the Ashbourne complex. That project enabled the company to process more than 1 million birds per week at the plant and hatch 1.2 million chicks per week at the hatchery.
The Ashbourne complex has been part of Moy Park’s operations since 2004, when the assets were acquired from Dove Valley Poultry, according to a report from the Derby Telegraph.
If the planned closure comes into fruition, Moy Park would still operate 11 food manufacturing sites across the U.K., France and the Netherlands.
Moy Park, a subsidiary of Pilgrim’s Pride since 2017, is Europe’s 8th largest poultry producer. During the past year, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies survey, Moy Park slaughtered 312 million broilers. Moy Park was recently honored for its solar energy improvements by Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots. A few weeks prior to that, company established a steering committee to reduce the stigma associated with menopause and support employees who may be affected.
