Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Farms has announced a £7m expansion to its egg packing centre near Turriff.
The news comes in the wake of new listings with Sainsbury’s and the Co-op. The business also supplies Lidl, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer stores.
Not only will the development double the size of Duncan Farm’s packing area, but it will also double its grading and packing capacity. The business is also constructing two new free-range laying units on its existing farms within four miles of the expanded centre.
As part of its growth strategy, Duncan Farms has committed to working with five additional local partner producers and will be recruiting at all levels of the business, from entry level to management. In addition to the operational expansion, staff facilities are also being upgraded to create an improved, modernised space for the growing team, including new offices, meeting spaces and a new canteen.
The investment also includes installation of a new Moba egg grader which has improved quality inspection, new weighing technology and provides significantly increased grading capacity for free-range eggs. Duncan Farms says it is the first business in Scotland to install this technology.
Vice-chairman of Duncan Farms, Rachael Duncan, said: “This is an exciting time for our business as we have the opportunity for significant expansion as part of our continued growth strategy. We are experiencing an increase in demand for British free-range eggs, and this is complemented by a key consumer trend where traceability is important.
“It is a challenging time for family-owned agricultural businesses like ours, but we are committed to our next stage of growth. We are looking forward to working with more Scottish producers and offering them the opportunity to grow with us and our key retail partners.”
