UK poultry industry sees jobs surge

Turkey processor Bernard Matthews is to create 400 new jobs following the securing of new retail contracts.

A new supply agreement to provide cooked chicken from its site at Great Witchingham, Suffolk, will create an extra 400 jobs from the site. Bernard Matthews is recruiting for non-seasonal roles, which range from factory management to supervisors, skilled operatives and process workers.

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.”​

Cargill​

Poultry processor Cargill is to create 80 new jobs at its Wolverhampton site following a £35 million investment.

It is to install a second production line at the facility, which manufactures breaded and battered chicken for its foodservice customers. The 80 new roles available include engineering team leaders, multi-skilled shift engineers and production operatives. The additional roles will bring the facility’s workforce to 250 people.

Jon Lauritzen, Cargill UK commercial director, said: “We have built a sustainable chicken supply chain with our trusted partners to provide our Wolverhampton site with whole chicken breast fillets to make breaded and battered products for our loyal foodservice customers. Our further investment of £35m will ensure we maintain our reputation as a ‘best in class’ facility.”​