The Karro Food Group is to invest £10 million in its processing and production operations during the next 12 months.
The group, which is a major supplier of British pork to the retail, trade and foodservice industries, is undertaking a series of upgrades in continuation of its turnaround programme, following its establishment as an independent company in January 2013 by UK-based private equity house Endless.
The investments, all due for completion in 2015, include:
- £6.5m investment into new chilling and processing technology at Karro’s facility in Cookstown, Northern Ireland;
- £1.5m upgrade to the gammon processing line at its Malton site and to expand the company’s fresh pork and gammon production and slicing capability;
- £1m investment in new kill line in Malton to facilitate export and domestic supply;
- £1m in new packing lines at Karro’s Haverhill site.
Karro’s Malton site, the company’s headquarters, will also see the launch of a new Malton Innovation Centre, which will drive new product development and R&D for the business.
These latest investments follow Karro’s announcement that it delivered an EBITDA improvement of £10m in its first year as an independent business.
Karro added that the investment demonstrated the group’s commitment to use the latest technologies to enhance product quality and provide the best service possible to customers.
“It is further evidence that we are well-ahead of our five year turnaround plan, and gives us added capability to develop our strategic retail and trade partnerships and enter new markets,” said the group’s executive chair, Di Walker.