Chicken Factory Bombshell for Ashbourne
Moy Park looking to close processing plant on Ashbourne Airfield
According to an article in Derbyshire Live, the huge Moy Park chicken processing factory on the Airfield Industrial Estate in Ashbourne is set to be closed. Over 800 workers received on announcement on September 6th detailing the company's intention to concentrate its operation into 3 factories rather than 4. The factories that will remain are Ballymena and Dungannon in NI and Anwick in Lincolnshire. Moy Park is owned by US food giant Pilgrim's Pride.
Is lack of a masterplan for the airfield to blame?
One of the reason that Moy Park give for not choosing to continue in Ashbourne is the fact that 'the site is unsuitable for further investment, as its buildings were split by a busy road and the site's "land-locked" position "compounds the operational challenges'.
As can be seen from the aerial photo above, there is a great deal of land to the north of some of their buildings but as yet there is no indication as to whether it is to be used for housing or industry or indeed if the landowner is going to release it for development in the near future.
Is Brexit to blame?
With Northern Ireland enjoying a special status as still part of the EU single market, the Moy Park Ballymena and Dungannon factories are well placed to supply many areas and are believed to hold a contract with Sainsburys. However the Ballymena factory has only just resumed production at its live bird processing line after suspending it earlier in the year. Clearly there is a capacity issue in Moy Park and as input costs rise, particularly for energy, and problems of labour shortage due to immigration control post brexit continue, you can understand why they believe that a supply reduction is their best way forward.
Discussions between Moy Park and the union representing staff are ongoing.