Tegel Celebrates Christchurch Plant Reopening

Media release
26 November 2007

Tegel Celebrates Significant Investment in Christchurch with Plant Reopening

Tegel Foods Ltd officially reopened its chicken processing plant in Christchurch on Saturday.

An extensive $22 million rebuild has recently been completed following a fire, which destroyed the main processing plant at the Hornby site in January 2007.

The redevelopment secures the future of the site, jobs of the 150 workers employed in the plant and demonstrates the company’s commitment to the region during testing times for New Zealand manufacturers.

Tegel’s substantial investment in the Christchurch plant and the rebuild has allowed the company to utilise technological advancements to improve product quality and continue to produce innovative new products.

The company employs over 450 staff in the local area and there have been significant challenges resulting from the fire.

Christchurch site manager, Ed Campion says that Tegel Christchurch has operated at approximately 70% of normal capacity since January.

“We managed to keep all staff employed despite the changes to production levels and reduced volumes. We worked with our local growers to manage production during this difficult period to minimise the disruption as much as possible,” says Mr. Campion. “It was important to continue to supply our quality product to the market reducing any impact on our customers.”

Ron Vela, Chief Executive Tegel Foods Ltd, is exceptionally proud of the way staff dealt with the issue. “Tegel employees throughout the country accommodated shift changes and altered working conditions in a combined national effort to help the Christchurch plant through this challenging time. The new plant represents a significant investment from Tegel and secures future production levels.”

The new 2500 sq metre factory processes chickens from local growers in the surrounding regions, who are contracted to supply the plant.

An opening ceremony was held on Saturday 24 November, with local Wigram MP and Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Jim Anderton officially reopening the plant.

ENDS

Background

Tegel Foods Ltd is New Zealand’s market-leading, fully integrated poultry producer. The company is involved in the breeding, hatching, processing, marketing and distribution of poultry products across both the North and South Islands.

The company directly employs more than 1800 staff throughout New Zealand.

The Christchurch plant is one of three processing operations for Tegel Foods and has operated at the Hornby site since 1975. It produces a wide range of fresh, frozen and ready to eat chicken and turkey products.

Tegel has been supplying New Zealand’s favourite chicken for over 40 years and has an annual turnover in excess of $600 million.

Tegel supplies in excess of 78 million kilograms annually of premium quality New Zealand produced chicken products for our loyal New Zealand customers.

Tegel Foods Ltd was acquired by Pacific Equity Partners in April 2006.

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