Consolidation in the UK poultry sector
One of the UK’s largest poultry companies, which only changed hands 3 years ago, has been snapped up by food tycoon and 2 Sisters Food Group entrepreneur, Ranjit Singh Boparan.
Banham Poultry, based in Attleborough in Norfolk (UK), which was bought by Chesterfield Poultry in 2018, has now been sold to Boparan Private Office (BPO), which also runs Bernard Matthews.
A spokesman for BPO said: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Banham Poultry, which safeguards more than 1,000 employees and many more across the supply chain. This acquisition will enable the BPO to maintain processing capacity and fulfil customers’ orders in the important run-up to the Christmas period and to meet future demand. We have a strong track record in investing and supporting the food processing and agricultural sectors, and we are totally committed to maintaining production capacity and jobs at the Banham site. This acquisition should be viewed as very good news for Banham employees, farmers, customers and suppliers and we will ensure that their needs will continue to be fulfilled.”
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Poultry processing plant investments
Banham Poultry has seen some substantial funds in recent years, totalling up to £11 million, to improve its processing plant. Most recently, £160,000 was invested in updating the factory’s handling and product despatch areas and a further £500,000 has been made into upgrading its odour abatement system.
The Attleborough plant processes around 700,000 chickens a week for the domestic market. The move comes just days after Paris-listed LDC Group, a major poultry supply company, bought Pembrokeshire-based Capestone Organic Poultry for £28 million. Capestone supplies 7% of the UK’s free-range and organic poultry market and also supplies baby food manufacturers.
