Norfolk-based Banham Poultry bought out of administration

The business has faced a "perfect storm" in recent months (Photo: Google Maps)
The business has faced a "perfect storm" in recent months (Photo: Google Maps)

Norfolk-based Banham Poultry has been bought out of administration by Chesterfield Poultry, saving 1,000 jobs.

Allan Graham and Trevor Birch of Duff & Phelps were appointed joint administrators for Banham Poultry, located in Attleborough, on Friday (5 October).

Chesterfield Poultry beat a rival bid from turkey producer Bernard Matthews to take over the plant.

Nadeem Iqbal, joint director Chesterfield Poultry, told the BBC Banham Poultry is a "growing business".

"All the jobs are secure. It's no good having a factory if we have not got a workforce," he said.

"There are many years of experience in the workforce and we want the message to go out that we want to keep the workers."

Allan Graham at Duff & Phelps said: "The business has faced a perfect storm in recent months, with increasing margin pressures from supermarket chains as a result of price competition, combined with increases in feed prices.

"It had been undertaking a number of capital projects designed to improve productivity in the longer term but these have impacted short-term profitability, which in turn has hit margins."

It comes as a police investigation continues into the plant after two men were killed due to a suspected gas leak last week.

Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were found close to the factory on Thursday 4 October. No one else was injured.