Earlier this year, Kelly Turkeys announced a £500k investment aimed at expanding its operations and launching a diverse array of value-added products.
This substantial investment will primarily fund new machinery at its Essex facility. The company seeks to enhance efficiencies in its Krafted By Kelly product line, a range that has experienced increased demand from retailers. Despite facing challenging market conditions for turkey, owner Paul Kelly addressed how cheaper imported butterfly cuts are affecting the domestic market during a recent company conference.
“We’ve invested in excess of £100k into a Multi-Vac thermoformer, which, when installed, will pack our Krafted by Kelly products for cooking,” explained Toby Kelly, the head of sales and new product development.
Additionally, Toby noted the machine will play an essential role during Christmas as it will be used for packing giblets, breast joints, and butterfly cuts. Thanks to its ability to adapt packing templates and perform gas flushing, the thermoformer offers significant flexibility for both cooked and fresh products throughout the year.
Kelly Turkeys has also prioritized new product development (NPD). The upgrade to its processing facility will grant the family-run company the capability to integrate additional packing templates. This means they can introduce new products currently in the development pipeline, including turkey bacon and turkey salami.
“We anticipate it will double packing output at Christmas and halve the time required to pack what we’re currently packing at Christmas,” added Kelly.
The overall investment encompasses all facets of the business, extending from the Danbury hatchery to the Claydons processing plant. This includes the installation of new management systems, as well as refrigeration and processing equipment.
Furthermore, Kelly Turkeys has expanded its transport fleet by acquiring new vehicles and has increased accommodations for seasonal workers at Danbury. The company has also created six new positions within its regular workforce.
