Country Valley Expansion Plans Launched

Darlington-based Country Valley Foods - which supplies quality beef, lamb, pork, poultry, bacon, game and delicatessen products across Northern England - is to expand its maturation and processing facilities to four times their current size, allowing the firm to handle 75 cattle per week compared to the current 15.

The move will create new jobs and training opportunities and give more farmers the chance to supply meat to the company's premium 'Grand Reserve' brand. It will also see cattle moving through the region's abattoirs more quickly by reducing the time the beef has to stay in the abattoir before it is moved to a purpose built, long-term maturation chiller.

The plans also mean that for the first time in the region, maturation, processing and bespoke packaging facilities will be available on contract for farms and businesses wanting to market their own products directly.

The expansion is being supported with more than £100,000 of investment from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in the region, managed by One NorthEast.

RDPE is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and rural communities. It is managed in the region by One NorthEast, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.

Country Valley Chairman Stewart Munro said "This additional investment from RDPE enables us to further develop our premium Grand Reserve Beef and Lamb brand and, in conjunction with local farmers, produce some of the finest beef in the country."

The work is expected to create the equivalent of 6 new full time jobs, and is set to begin this month. The new facilities should be up and running by the end of the year.

For more information on RDPE in North East England