Farmers
Pork farmers supplying Waitrose have saved an estimated £850,000 on feed per year since 2010, following a £3 million investment to roll out an innovative feeding system known as Eco Pig.
The feeding system has a lower environmental impact than traditional systems, according to Waitrose, which reported on the investment in the 2015 John Lewis Partnership annual report, published on 24 April 2015.
Waitrose has a sole pork supplier, Dalehead Foods, and its subsidiary, BQP, footed the £3 million bill.
Waitrose said its “respectful partnership approach” with suppliers had given BQP the ability to invest in the individual farms with which it works. “This helps to increase capacity, improve standards and efficiency, and encourage the next generation of farmers,” the annual report stated. “This respectful partnership approach has given BQP the ability to invest in the individual farms with which it works.”
The report added that, since 2010, 44 of Dalehead’s farmer partners have invested more than £13 million in buildings, during a period of low confidence in the sector as a whole, to create new capacity.
Moy Park has announced its grower expansion programme in Northern Ireland has been a success, with over 250 new poultry houses planned for completion by the end of 2015.
Moy Park explained that it had embarked on the programme, which was launched at the end of last year, as part of the business’ plan to grow its fresh, locally farmed chicken supply for its UK and Ireland customers. It reported that 90 houses were either built or nearing completion.
Alan Gibson, Moy Park director, said: “This expansion is in response to what we believe is a long-term demand from both retailers and consumers for fresh, locally sourced poultry. We currently work with 800 of the very best poultry farmers and we are pleased with the response we’ve had to our call for growers in Northern Ireland to expand poultry production.
“We currently have over 250 new poultry houses in the programme but we are still looking for growers in proximity to our two main primary processing sites in Ballymena, Co Antrim and Dungannon, Co Tyrone, who want to expand or move into poultry production.”
Moy Park said its expansion programme has included a recently announced £170m investment and the creation of 628 jobs in Northern Ireland. It appealed to farmers to continue to help expansion: “The growth opportunity is open to both existing poultry growers and suitable new farmers in Northern Ireland. Moy Park is inviting those interested to come forward to find out how they could qualify for the programme to build new broiler and breeder houses and become part of one of Europe’s most successful poultry businesses.
The scheme sees a Moy Park Agri Team helping farmers to invest and expand in their business, as well providing help and guidance for new farmers starting out in the industry. As part of this, the company was instrumental in getting a government Agri-Food Loan Scheme up and running.