New Opportunities for Meat Producers

10th June 2008

Categories: Green & Local

Country Valley Foods Expansion Provides New Facilities for Meat Producers

For the first time in the region, meat producers in North East England will have the opportunity to process, package and own-brand their meat products through an expansion of the meat processing and long-term chiller facilities at a Darlington-based company, Country Valley Foods. There will also be increased opportunities for quality meat producers to supply to the company's premiere "Grande Reserve" brand.

Country Valley, which supplies quality beef, lamb, pork, poultry, bacon, game and delicatessen products across Northern England - is commencing work on a major expansion that will quadruple its processing capabilities and, crucially, provide a purpose built, long-term maturation chiller - removing the current bottle-neck in the region's meat processing capabilities. Work will start in about a month and should be complete by the end of the year.

With the aid of £100,000 of Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funding, Country Valley is transferring some of their existing services to a new site, and completely revamping their current premises to include the new maturation chillers, railing, weighing and traceability systems, a beef line, a processing hall and a bespoke computerised weighing and labelling system.

In addition the expansion will create jobs and training opportunities, especially for butchers, and free up hanging-space in abbatoirs around the region.

Sue Scott, Regional Manager with English Farming and Food Partnerships, said: "This increased capacity at a pinch-point in the red meat supply chain is being created at a time when regional producers are eagerly seeking premium outlets for their produce. These new facilities should prove a spur to such business development and English Farming and Food Partnerships will be delighted to assist beef and lamb producers to capitalise on their creation."

To read more about this article, click here.

To contact Country Valley Foods, click here.

To find out more about the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funding, click here.

To contact English Farming and Food, click here.

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