Drive to fill 150 posts atWrexham chicken-processing plant

A MAJOR recruitment drive is set to get under way next year for more than 100 jobs at a chicken-processing plant in Wrexham.

The £10m plant at the former First Milk dairy site – which shut down in 2014 – was given planning permission in 2015.

Maelor Foods said they had been “working tirelessly” to adapt the premises for chicken processing and that they had completed phase one of the development.

They said this had seen 40 staff taken on so far but that 2017 would see a massive step up in recruitment.

Part two of the development will involve the creation of the slaughtering facility and this has already been commenced.

As part of this process an extension is being added, creating an internal lairage, with completion of the extension expected for next June.

The site is tipped to employ around 150 workers by the time it is fully operational by October.

Managing director and owner of Maelor Foods Raj Mehta said: “We do know that there is enthusiasm locally for us to be fully up and running, which will create considerable opportunities in the supply chain for local farmers and all who supply and support them. Our intention is to increase processing in the New Year and, as a result, we will be looking for new employees.

“We hope to be fully operational in October 2017.”

The site has already been accredited by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and British Retail Consortium (BRC) and has Red Tractor approval.