Farmers Ferry launches meat exporter
28 February 2000
Farmers’ Ferry launches meat exporter
By FWi staff
FARMERS Ferry, the producer-owned company shipping live sheep to the Continent, is launching a sister company, Farmers Fresh, to develop the trade in carcass meat.
Announcing the move at the SIA livestock show in Paris today, chief executive, David Owen said there were good opportunities in both markets.
“The move into supplying meat on the hook as well as animals on the hoof is a logical extension to our work,” he said.
Farmers Fresh will operate from an abattoir in the Midlands. Mr Owen said the company was working with the Livestock Auctioneers Association to identify procurement opportunities throughout the UK.
“Farmers Ferry will deliver the meat from the plant to customers in Continental Europe. We already have a number of orders in place.”
The plan is to set up a new PLC holding company for both businesses in the summer, offering shares to sheep producers.
These shareholders will become the companies principal suppliers.
Defending Farmers Ferrys welfare record, chairman Terry Bayliss explained that the company had not had one casualty out of 1.73 million sheep moved on its boat – the Cap Afrique – during the past 18 months.
That trade had earned the UK economy and sheep producers some 51m.