Moy Park suspends poultry killing at NI Ballymena plant

Moy Park says it is “in discussion” with its broiler farming suppliers in Northern Ireland about a decision to suspend live processing at its Ballymena plant, thought to be prompted by post-Brexit labour challenges and rising input prices.

The company has 13 production sites across the UK and Europe, but it is the plant at County Antrim that is the target of changes being made in response to what are described as “customer growth and labour market challenges”.

In a statement, it said it planned to move staff from the live bird processing line to further processing lines at Ballymena, which it said would have the effect of increasing production at the site. 

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“No jobs will be affected by these changes, however we are planning to temporarily pause live bird processing at Ballymena as we focus on seasonal and retail products,” it said.

These changes mean that there will be no live processing at the plant until September, when a new supply contract with Sainsbury’s kicks in.

The company said it was in discussion with farming suppliers about the changes.

“We will be working closely with our farming partners throughout the process to manage this temporary reduction in poultry requirement,” it said.

It would not confirm what would happen to broilers now in the system, or if growers would be paid as normal.

Moy Park, which is owned by US food giant Pilgrim’s Pride, also processes birds at its larger facility in Dungannon.

It is the second time in three years that the processor has introduced this change at Ballymena – in early 2019 processing was suspended because of “challenging market conditions”.

UFU deeply concerned

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), which represents some of the broiler suppliers affected, said this latest move was “deeply concerning”.

UFU deputy president William Irvine said suppliers were “extremely disappointed and worried”.  

“It is the second time this has happened in less than three years and will create ongoing income pressures,” he added.

“Poultry producers have been hit hard in recent times, and they’ve been exhausting every avenue to sustain their family farm businesses.”

Increasing input costs are having a major impact throughout the supply chain, from farmers to processors, but a reluctance by retailers to pass on some of the cost to consumers is starting to bite.

Mr Irvine urged consumers to understand that higher costs of production will affect the price of food.

“Neither farmers or processors can produce food, meeting extra production costs, without receiving a fair return from the marketplace,’’ he said.

“Therefore, it’s going to have a rippling effect down the food chain.” 

Moy Park is one of Europe’s biggest poultry processors, handling more than 5.7 million birds every week.