New venison plant opens at Lorneville
Alliance has reaffirmed its commitment to the New Zealand deer industry with the opening of a new $15.9 million venison processing plant at Lorneville.
The farmer-owned co-operative started processing its first deer at the plant on Monday September 17, but it is expected to be a few weeks before production fully ramps up.
Once operating at peak capacity, the plant, near Invercargill will employ about 60 people.
The plant features improved handling facilities and an enhanced configuration.
The slaughterboard, boning room and offal area are larger than those at Alliance’s venison processing facilities at Smithfield and the company’s former Makarewa plant.
Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor welcomed the start of processing at the plant.
‘’This investment at Lorneville reinforces the co-operative’s position as a leading and innovative processor and shows how serious we are about strengthening our presence in the deer industry.
‘’We are delivering our strategy of investing in maximising our operational performance.
‘’The opening of this plant also reflects our commitment to continuing to invest in New Zealand’s rural communities.
‘’We are proud of our Southland roots and we employ more than 2000 people in the region alone,’’ Surveyor said.
Alliance was working hard to capture greater value for Pure South venison in the co-operative’s global markets, he said.
In addition to marketing venison in Germany and Europe for the game season, the co-operative was selling into the United States and United Kingdom markets with value-added propositions.
‘’Our goal is to increase out of season chilled consumption while at the same time continue to grow sales of our seasonal chilled venison.’’
An official ribbon cutting event was expected to be held at the plant in early December.