Economy Minister Dr has announced that
Bangor-based McWhinney's Sausages is investing £2.2 million in
new equipment to increase productivity and automation.
McWhinney's will significantly increase production capacity by
introducing a new spiral freezer and automatic packing line,
which will help the company grow its exports and develop new
products.
Visiting McWhinney's factory at Balloo Industrial Estate in
Bangor, the Minister said: “This investment will allow
McWhinney's to double its capacity, automate key processes and
boost productivity.
“I welcome the company's ambition to grow exports, enhance
sustainability, and expand sales across the island.
“McWhinney's is a long‑established part of our agri‑food sector,
and this investment will support jobs and economic activity
across the Ards and North Down area.”
McWhinney's is a sixth-generation family business which supplies
a range of high-quality sausages to fish and chip shops,
hospitality venues and outdoor catering industries based locally
and in Britain.
Kevin McWhinney, Managing Director at McWhinney's Sausages, said:
“Our new equipment, supported by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment
Initiative, marks a significant step for our business. A new
spiral freezer will allow us to repurpose our existing freezer
into a dedicated retail packing line, enabling us to enter the
retail market.
“This will significantly increase our turnover, help us to
increase innovation and open up new opportunities in the Republic
of Ireland and further afield. Since we moved to Bangor in 1994,
we have focused entirely on wholesale business. It's exciting to
revisit our retail roots on an increased scale and serve the
public directly as we did since 1898.”
Invest NI has offered McWhinney's Sausages £612,000 towards the
investment through its Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII).
Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing and
Engineering at Invest NI, said: “McWhinney's significant
investment in new equipment and automation will enable it to
increase productivity, to meet supplier demand, grow its exports
and boost sustainability. As well as increasing sales in the ROI
market, our trade team is helping the company to explore new
European markets such as Spain. The company's increased output
will help it to capitalise on these opportunities and create room
for further product innovation as its automation increases.”
As part of the project, McWhinney's will introduce
environmentally friendly equipment and fully recyclable
packaging. The company also plans to create four new jobs over
the next two years, including a Floor Supervisor, Sales
Executive, and two Production Operatives.
Iain Joannides, Head of Regional Business for the Eastern Region
at Invest NI, added: “We're helping businesses in the Ards and
North Down Borough Council area such as McWhinney's to boost
operational efficiencies and take the next step in their export
journey. Ultimately, this helps local companies become more
profitable and competitive to benefit the local economy.”
Notes to editors:
- More information on the Agri-Food Investment Initiative
is available at https://www.investni.com/support-for-business/funding-support/agri-food-investment-initiative
