Business

Moy Park plans to recruit 500 temporary workers in Northern Ireland

Moy Park expects to recruit 500 temporary workers in the north
Moy Park expects to recruit 500 temporary workers in the north Moy Park expects to recruit 500 temporary workers in the north

MOY Park has said it is planning to recruit up to 500 people in the north to cope with the surge in demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

The poultry giant employs around 10,000 people, with half of its workforce in Northern Ireland. Owned by US-based Pilgrim’s Pride, Moy Park has said it needs a total of 1,000 temporary workers to respond demand driven by a spike in retail sales in recent weeks.

The poultry firm’s prepared foods director, Andrew Nethercott said 55 people were already inducted into the company on Friday after the recruitment drive was launched on Thursday.

“We’re seeing a big increase, particularly around the retail sales end of it,” he told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.

In a message to the hundreds of hospitality worker left out of a job in the past week, he said: “We believe they will be well suited to people in the food service or restaurant sector, because they have an awareness of the high level of food hygiene and safety regulations that are required for working in food processing.”

But he stated there remains plenty of food in the supply chain.

“There is plenty of food in the system and we would encourage people not to panic buy. We’re seeing a huge increase in retail sales. Equally, we are seeing a fall-off in sales in the food service and restaurant sector.

“We’re in good shape in order to cope with demand.”

The director said Moy Park had stocked up in packaging and ingredients, but said some lines had been cut back to focus on key products.

“You mightn’t get the choice that you would normally enjoy, but we will secure the food supply chains,” he said.