The final phase of work to increase capacity and create new jobs at a Middleton on the Wolds based Soanes Poultry is nearing completion.
The £3.3 million factory extension project will increase capacity by 20% and create 15 new jobs in the sales and marketing, processing and distribution departments.
General manager, Nigel Upson said: “Over the last three years, we’ve 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 also complete.
“By the end of the summer, we will have completed work on the remaining areas along with 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.
Nigel continues: “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.”
A family owned business which has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947, Soanes currently employs 120 people and its award-wining products are stocked by butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire and supplied to wholesalers nationwide.
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.
For more information on Soanes and to find a stockist visit www.soanespoultry.co.uk