£3m investment for processing factory

A LEADING food firm has announced a £3 million investment in its Tayside base.

The move by ABP Perth has been hailed as a major boost to the local economy.

Bosses said the investment, which is backed by the Scottish Government, is the first phase of a major upgrade of its Inveralmond plant, which could see it transformed into a world-class complex.

The company has a workforce of about 280 and works with 1,600 farmers around Scotland.

Up to 1,500 cattle are slaughtered and processed at the factory each week.

The improvements include an expansion of the chilling and maturation rooms, creating “state-of-the-art” production areas and better staff amenities.

Council leader Ian Campbell hailed the project as a boost for the area’s food sector.

“This is welcome news,” he said. “ABP Food Group is one of Europe’s leading food processors and works with farmers across the country.

“Perth and Kinross is an area with such a strong reputation for quality food and drink and it’s very encouraging that they are choosing to invest so heavily in their Perth site.”

Tom Kirwan, managing director of ABP, said: “We are really excited to be moving forward with the development and creating a facility that will not only support Scottish agriculture by providing a world-class processing facility, but will also enable additional value to be created which will be good for local employment and the economy.”

The plant was taken over by the ABP Food Group in 1997. Since then, the company has ramped up production and invested in new grading facilities. It has also patented a new way of preparing carcasses.

Mr Kirwan said the Perth plant was part of a global £2.5 billion turnover company, operating across 46 sites in eight different countries