Hubbard closes UK hatchery

Broiler genetics company Hubbard – part of the French Groupe Grimaud family of companies – has closed its UK grandparent (GP) operation as part of a wider company restructuring.

The Fulletby hatchery near Horncastle, Lincolnshire, closed for business on 1 January. The site, which was bought from layer hatchery business Joice and Hill in 2007, was producing about two million parent stock a year.

“It was a relatively small hatchery, producing day-old chicks principally for the export market,” said UK sales manager, Jim Hunnable.

“Our French owners have been looking at their grandparent operations across Europe and decided they needed to consolidate. Unfortunately, we were chosen. It was a small hatchery and not one that was easy to expand.”

Emphasis on slower-growing breeds

But UK broiler breeders will not notice any difference, he added, as their parent stock are supplied from Hubbard’s main GP operation in France anyway. The emphasis is on slower-growing breeds for the organic, free-range and Freedom Food markets, while Fulletby was producing other strains.

Staff at the hatchery have been stood down, though negotiations are said to be on-going with a potential new owner.

Source: Farmers Weekly