Kepak to create 150 new jobs

The manufacturer announced the recruitment drive during a visit by minister for the economy of Wales Vaughan Gething to its Merthyr site, reportedly Wales’s largest meat processing plant.

Kepak further reiterated its commitment to the local community with plans to strengthen its partnership with local suppliers.

Kepak workforce

Plans to strengthen the 850 strong workforce are part of a programme of investment in the site since it was acquired by Kepak in 2018, which has seen the manufacturer commit £30m into modernising the factory.

Kepak Merthyr’s general manager Chris Jones said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister for the Economy, to showcase our world-class facilities and to highlight that in addition to our support for the local economy, we have invested over £30 million in modernising this flagship site since it was acquired five years ago.​

“Sustained investment of this kind, and equipping our workforce with the skills they need to benefit from long-term career opportunities, will ensure that Kepak Merthyr not only remains a major contributor to the regional economy, but also one of the area’s most significant employers.”​

New packing area

During his visit, the Minister enjoyed a tour of the site, including the new meat packing area which has undergone a major modernisation recently, doubling its packaging capacity, as part of a multi-million-pound investment.

Gething commented that Kepak Merthyr was “a progressive company providing opportunities for local people to develop their skills and forge a career within the food industry”.​

Meanwhile, Lurgan, Northern Ireland-based Classic Mineral Water has invested £3.4m in developing a third bottling line​ ​– supported by a capital grant from Invest Northern Ireland –  as part of plans to extend its reach into the own-label market and has create 16 new jobs.