BPO, which owns turkey producer Bernard Matthews, said the investment will support the development of British turkey production, driven by growing consumer demand for high-protein products.
The investment will be centred on Bernard Matthews’ main site in Halesworth, Suffolk, which currently processes around 100,000 turkeys a week.
According to BPO, the investment will include general building improvements, new amenities for the 700 workers based at the site, a new lairage, new processing and refrigeration equipment, and the introduction of advanced digital tools and robotics.
The company said these improvements will help Bernard Matthews deliver higher animal welfare standards and develop new innovative high-protein products, including Gochujang Turkey Strips and Moroccan Style Turkey Koftas. These will join the 64 year-round turkey products already produced at the manufacturer’s Halesworth and Sunderland sites.
President and founder of Boparan Private Office, Ranjit Singh Boparan, said: “We are about to ramp up turkey production for the traditional British Christmas, but looking beyond the festive spike, we also see big opportunities to offer this healthy, low fat, high protein alternative all year round, in a much bigger and more exciting way than anybody is doing right now.
“We’ll learn from our new European partners and work to create new opportunities for British turkey farmers and exciting new turkey products for our customers.”
He continued: “This £100m investment in our turkey business will drive innovation, improve animal welfare and create a healthier and more sustainable British food supply chain – a key aim of our £2bn NextGen strategy.”
BPO added that Bernard Matthews will also draw on the experience of German turkey producer Heidemark Group, which the holding company acquired in February.
With the growing take-up of GLP-1 weight-loss medications in the UK, BPO said it will focus on turkey as a convenient, high-protein, low-fat and low-calorie food option.
