Farmers angered by Malton closures
6 March 2000
Farmers angered by Malton closures
By FWi staff
FARMERS have condemned the closure of another pig processing plant announced by Malton Foods, Britains biggest pig processor.
Malton confirmed that more than 300 jobs will be affected by the closure of its boning and curing plant in Ahoghill, Northern Ireland, in early June.
The company also announced that the closure of its plant at Enniskillen, originally due to cease production in April, will now close on Friday (10 March).
The Ulster Farmers Union condemned the moves. Farmers would not be impressed by any attempts to underplay the significance of the closures, it said.
Will Taylor, UFU president, described the Ahoghill shut-down as a body-blow to pig producers which would further undermine confidence in the industry.
The people who have lost jobs were the victims of the “chronic mis-management of our industry by the government”, he added.
Malton blamed both closures on the crisis within the pig sector. Hundreds of producers have gone out of business and fewer pigs are available for slaughter.
But the announcement would not affect pig farmers and the demand for their supplies would not decrease, claimed Max Hilliard, Maltons managing director.
“We regret having to take this decision to rationalise our operations and overheads, but it has been forced on us,” he said.
“We need to realign processing capacities with the declining UK pig herd to reflect the lower volumes available.”
Malton recently increased the price it pays for its pigs and the company would maintain cutting and slaughtering operations at Cookstown, added Mr Hilliard.
Some of the processing activities currently taking place at Ahogill will be transferred to Maltons plants in Ashton and Osset in England, he said.
Some skilled employees from the Ahoghill plant will be given the option of a transfer to the Cookstown, which is Maltons one remaining site in the province.
But the pig sector is dismayed that Mr Hilliard has decided to resign from the British Pig Executive and the British Meat Manufacturers Association council.
Mr Hilliard said he stepped down because of personal work commitments.
His workload, which accounts for a quarter of pigmeat processed in this country, has made it difficult for Mr Hilliard to attend BPEX meetings.
But the loss of his influence is a blow to BPEX as it prepares to unveil its long-term strategy for the industry at a “pig summit” at the end of March.
Mr Hilliards place as a BMMA representative on BPEX will be taken by Ashley Bowes, of Norfolk-based pig processors Bowes.
- New owner for Malton Bacon?, FWi, 25 February, 2000
- Malton shuts Northern Irish pig plant, FWi, 21 January, 2000