The final phase of East YorkshirePoultry business's £3m expansion plan nears completion

The final phase of workto increase capacity and create new jobs at a Middleton on the Wolds based chicken business is nearing completion.

The £3.3 million poultry factory extension project will increase capacity by 20% and create 15 new jobs in the sales and marketing, processing and distribution departments.

Soanes Poultry's general manager, Nigel Upson said: "Over the last three years, we have invested several million pounds to make improvements to our factory, the team's working conditions and our farms. Improvements to the effluent plant, energy store, lairage, chiller, packing and portioning rooms have been made, and our new flagship farm at Horn Hill is now complete. Maintenance Manager, Bestwn Kdr has done a great job of fabricating bespoke collecting bins for the packing room from sheet steel.

"By the end of the summer, we will have completed work on the effluent collection sump, the offal collection shed, cladding to the rear of the building and the installation of new machinery to improve quality."

The marketing team have also made improvements to labelling to highlight the name of the farmer on each pack of whole chickens and portions.

"All of these changes will help us to manage future growth and to maintain and exceed the highest standards of presentation and taste that has won us many awards over the years," concludes Mr Upson.

The first phase of the project,that improved infrastructure and expanded portioning capacity in response to customer needs, was part funded by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development with a £583,000 grant secured by Westley Consulting.

Soanes Poultry is a family owned business which has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. It currently employs 120 people and sells its chicken to butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and to wholesalers nationwide.

Ends

Photo:Graham Bell, manager of the flagship Horn Hill farm near Kilnwick Graham Bell from Soanes Poultry

For more information or to arrange an interview withSoanes Poultry'sGeneral ManagerNigel Upson,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk

Notes to editors

1.      For more information aboutSoanes Poultry, please visitwww.soanespoultry.co.uk.

2.      Keep up to date withSoanes Poultry's news onFacebook,Twitterand the business bloghere.

3.      Soanes Poultry is accredited under the BritishRetail Consortium Food Safety Standard A Grade and the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Standard.