FUNDING is ensuring that the North East will get its first fully EU accredited abattoir which will strengthen the region’s red meat supply chain bringing benefits to farmers, wholesale butchers, retailers and consumers.
One North East’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) has approved £200,000 to make Burradon abattoir Linden Foods, in Northumberland, more efficient, raising standards and creating a more sustainable and profitable business.
The funding will address potential market failure in the region’s red meat supply chain which currently lacks such a high quality abattoir, meaning many animals are instead transported to Scotland, Yorkshire and the south.
As a result of the improvements to the abattoir, local producers will benefit from more demand for their livestock and an increased number of stock being finished in the region.
Retailers will benefit from increased efficiencies of slaughter speeds and more available capacity, which will produce higher accreditation within the supply chain. Meanwhile wholesalers and retailers will also benefit from a more efficient service as well as a higher quality product due to improved processing equipment and faster chilling.
Adrian Sherwood, RDPE Manager at One North East, said: "In recent decades larger processors have migrated away from the North East, leaving the region with only a handful of small players. It is therefore crucial to the future of the region’s livestock production and meat processing sector that abattoirs have the best infrastructure to provide the high value markets for the livestock produced in the region.
"The Linden Foods’ project will combine very modern, efficient and cost effective processing with the highest accreditations that the food industry demands.
"This high quality abattoir will also add value through reduced food miles and carbon emissions, through to traceability and locally branded products to the export market."
Having bought Whitley Bay Meat Supply Company (Burradon) and Coast and County Meat Supply Company in 2007, Linden Foods Burradon, is primarily involved in slaughtering livestock and carcass preparation. The company currently employs 44 people but as a result of the investment, five jobs will be created.
David Bradford, Financial Controller at Linden Foods, said: "This investment from RDPE is essential for the business to move forward in a sustainable way by increasing our efficiency and raising standards to the level required by our customers.
"The improvements will also ensure that the sites environmental impact will be reduced and the quality of the end product will be improved producing win-win situations for both ourselves, the supply chain and our customers."
The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and communities. It is managed in North East England by One North East, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.
