Bernard Matthews key facts

Bernard Matthews claims to be the “biggest” and “most successful” turkey manufacturer in the UK.  But the recent H5N1 outbreak on one of its units could change all of this in 2007.  Here’s an overview of the “bootiful family food” global company.

• £400m global annual turnover 
• 7,000 employees worldwide
• Farms 8m turkeys annually in the UK
• Runs 57 UK turkey farms in Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire
• Has bases in Hungary, Germany and New Zealand (lamb)
• Company headquarters based in Great Witchingham Hall, Norwich
• Set up company in 1950 with 20 turkey eggs and second hand incubator
• In 2001 the company changed from a PLC to a family-run, private business
• Product range: cooked meats, fresh breaded, pastries, family frozen, sandwiches, roast/ oven-ready poultry and lamb

Bernard Matthews stresses that their products pose no risk to consumers as the affected poultry did not enter the food chain.  For more information, contact Bernard Matthews on 0500 140150, e-mail consumer.relations@bernardmatthews.com or visit the website www.bernardmatthews.com