Moy Park to supply turkey products to M&S

Leading poultry processor Moy Park is to supply all Marks & Spencer’s UK and Ireland stores with four new lines of turkey products in the run up to Christmas.

Moy Park, which supplies major retailers throughout the UK and Ireland with fresh, locally sourced poultry and convenience foods, has developed the turkey range in conjunction with M&S.

“At Christmas-time especially, customers are looking for foods that are ready-prepared and easy to cook, so the range we have produced gives households a choice of options, including pre-prepared stuffed crowns and spiced joints in a range of sizes, as well as the traditional turkey with all the trimmings,” explains Tony O’Neill, Moy Park’s business development director.

The company’s involvement in the turkey business evolved from its acquisition of O’Kane Poultry in 2010. “In the lead up to Christmas, we will produce more than one million turkeys for the UK and Ireland markets,” said Mr O’Neill.

The turkey products Moy Park produces for M&S will go on sale in 21 stores in the Republic of Ireland and 18 stores in Northern Ireland from mid-December.

Meanwhile, Grove Turkeys in Monaghan, Ireland, has won a major contract worth €4.7m with Tesco, creating 275 temporary jobs in recession-struck Ireland over the festive season.

Seasonal birds, including Grove’s Bronze turkeys, will be sold in both UK and Irish stores, of which there are 131 based in the Republic of Ireland.

Grove Turkeys was acquired from the Kerry Group in a management buyout in December 2006. The company boasts sustainable production and animal welfare credentials and produces standard, free-range and organic turkeys.

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