Minister praises Moy Park for providing jobs

Poultrymeat processor Moy Park is playing a key role in stimulating the local economy and providing jobs, according to Northern Ireland agriculture minister, Michelle O’Neill.

“As the largest poultry producing company in the north of Ireland, Moy Park and its farmer producers play an extremely important role during these difficult economic times,” she said during a visit to the company’s Dungannon processing plant.

The success of the company owed much to the close relationship with local farmers, she added. “They have risen to the challenge to produce top quality birds to the exacting specification demanded by our customers.”

Moy Park is the province’s largest food processor, employing over 10,500 staff across 13 production sites in Northern Ireland, England, France and Holland. Last year it acquired rival producer O’Kane Poultry, increasing its domination of the Northern Ireland poultry sector.

“Farming is at the heart of our business and we place the utmost importance on maintaining and developing our high agriculture credentials,” said managing director Nigel Dunlop.

• Moy Park has recently invested in a high welfare bird catching machine, soon to be deployed on UK farms. See the story here, and give us your feedback here