The final phase of a £3.3 million poultry factory extension is nearing completion.
Soanes Poultry is increasing capacity by 20 per cent at the Middleton on the Wolds base, creating 15 new jobs in sales, marketing, processing and distribution.
A family-owned business, it has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947.
It now employs 120 people, selling into butchers and independent retailers in Yorkshire, and to wholesalers nationwide, handling five million birds a year across 3,000 acres.
Soanes’ 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, bringing further provenance to the product.
“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,” Mr Upson said.
The first phase of the project, which saw improved infrastructure and expanded portioning capacity, was part-funded by the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development with a £583,000 grant secured by Westley Consulting.
