A.P. Jess Brechin Ltd., which replaced Halls of Broxburn as Scotland's largest pork processor, was awarded £2.7 million ($4.4 million) from the Scottish government for major upgrades and expansion of its Brechin, Scotland, pork processing facility.
“Scottish farms produce around £81 million ($133.3 million) of pig meat a year for processing, and the closure of Halls of Broxburn was a severe blow to our pig industry, said Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, who made his remarks during the National Union of Farmers Scotland annual general meeting. “This award to A.P. Jess in Brechin is a major investment in the infrastructure supporting Scotland’s pig sector, and will go a long way in rebuilding capacity in the supply chain.”
Tulip Ltd. will buy all the pork processed at the Brechin plant. Tulip is the largest pork producer and processor in the United Kingdom with 17 facilities producing fresh and cooked pork products.
“...Our relationship with Tulip has developed over the last three years and without their continued support this project could not have taken place,” said Allan Jess, managing director of A.P. Jess Brechin Ltd. “This project will make the plant one of the most modern in Europe and will strengthen the availability of the Scottish Specially Selected Pork brand.”
The project is expected to create 20 new jobs and allow the A.P. Jess to keep another 42 workers.
“The Scottish Government grant allocated for the Brechin site is excellent news for the Scottish pig industry allowing significant expansion at the site,” said Gordon McKen, managing director of Scottish Pig Producers Ltd. “The Brechin site is ideally placed in our main pig producing area and the planned upgrade will give producers confidence to invest allowing us to grow the industry.”
