Company History
Today, Moy Park is a billion pound business operating across several countries; however, it began life as a modest farming company in 1943 in Moygashel, a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with interests in many aspects of farming including dairy, potatoes and egg production. Producing chickens for eating was actually just an incidental part of egg production with the male laying birds being processed and sold to the supermarkets as frozen whole chickens!
Click on the dates below to see information on what happened within Moy Park in that year.
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2023
Our workforce
In 2023 we celebrated 80 years since the establishment of Moy Park in 1943 with our team members.
We have been celebrating our amazing, long-serving team members through recognition events for over 300 guests. This included team members who have achieved 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and amazingly 50 years of service coming together to enjoy a delicious meal and entertainment with their friends and colleagues. We truly appreciate their long service and dedication over so many years. These special ceremonies are a highlight of the year for us where we shine a light on the dedication of our team members in front of family and friends.
Safety is a condition of our business and to reward our team of over 500 first aiders, made up of colleagues from each of Moy Park’s sites across the UK and Europe, we launched a new recognition programme. Our first aiders play a vital role in keeping workplaces safe and healthy, rapidly responding to any incidents that occur. To highlight the importance of first aid, and make first aiders more visible on site, we proudly unveiled a newly designed uniform for the team, which was presented at each site by senior leaders in the business at recognition events.
Sustainability and striving for Net Zero
To support our Net Zero strategy, we unveiled a pioneering project to reduce emissions which included a scheme to monitor and track greenhouse gas emissions in real time at individual farm level, across our entire farming base. The project was the first of its kind in the poultry industry, focused on tackling Scope 3 emissions - indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain – by using a unique ‘Farm Carbon Calculator’ to examine emissions farm by farm, flock by flock, across our supply chain.
Continuing our sustainability mission, Moy Park installed a new state of the art combined heat and power (CHP) unit at our Craigavon facility, bringing substantial efficiency and sustainability benefits. The new CHP unit uses natural gas to generate electricity and hot water at the Craigavon.
We also unveiled our state-of-the-art Beech Farm in Lincolnshire, which has been built from the ground up with sustainability in mind and can reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 100%, effectively taking the farm ‘off grid’ when all systems are operating at capacity. Technologies used on the farm to reach net-zero emissions include ground source heat pumps to generate heating, heat exchanger systems to reduce overall heat usage, and solar technology capable of generating an impressive 1MW of electricity, which will work in tandem with lithium battery storage. The facility also utilises the latest biosecurity measures, ensuring the highest standards of safety and welfare for our birds.
As part of our continued dedication to championing local biodiversity and wider ambition to reach Net Zero, Moy Park sponsored the Biodiversity University, an engaging way for children and young people to learn more about the natural environment and the importance of protecting wildlife habitats. Our support of this project runs in tandem with our established biodiversity teams at our sites across the UK and engagement projects working closely with schools and community groups to maintain more diverse ecosystems in our local areas.
In 2023, Moy Park achieved ‘Platinum’ level status in the BITC NI Business and Biodiversity Charter, recognising organisations that are committed to enhancing and protecting biodiversity.
Moy Park also achieved top ‘Platinum’ level status in the Environmental Benchmarking Survey for the tenth consecutive year. The survey is organised by Business in the Community Northern Ireland, assessing top businesses for their environmental management, performance, and assurance.
Community and Charity Initiatives
2023 marked the end of our charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society following an incredible two-year fundraising period. Through many successful fundraising initiatives such as sky dives, quizzes, marathons and charity hikes, staff raised £50,000. Following this achievement, the company match funded an additional £50,000 to the charity, which alongside additional fundraising activities has brought the final fundraising total to just under £118,000.
Moy Park announced the start of a new charity partnership with Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, to increase awareness of and raise funds for the charity’s vital work. Over the next two years, Moy Park team members across the UK will support this vital work through fundraising activities including coffee mornings, sponsored walks, and quizzes.
Throughout 2023, Moy Park provided FareShare with over 100,000 meal equivalents which have been distributed to 137 charities, helping reach those in need with nutritious, healthy food. Distributed by charities across the UK, these meals reached community groups supporting families and children, elderly people, those suffering with mental health conditions and services supporting people experiencing homelessness.
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2022
Our workforce
In Grantham, Moy Park celebrated 40 years of our site with a series of celebrations for the 600 strong workforce. The site, based on Gonerby Road, achieved several milestones throughout this anniversary year - reaching a key safety achievement of over one million hours without a time lost accident as well as a production record of 950 tonnes in July 2022.
As part of our diversity, equality, inclusion & belonging strategy (DEIB) Moy Park established a steering team to provide a range of education & support opportunities for team members, relating to menopause. The team also focused on ways to reduce the stigma associated with menopause to encourage team members to feel more comfortable to discuss symptoms and seek support. The steering group team has established specialised training opportunities, including giving team members access to menopause qualified GPs to help them gain a better understanding of ways to manage symptoms and a new workplace menopause policy was created.
Pilgrim’s Shared Services Ltd consolidated existing UK-based transactional and group functions into a single business unit under the leadership of an Executive Leadership Team, drawn from UK and US-based Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation businesses to launch Pilgrim’s Shared Services Limited. The new single business unit will provide cross-functional support to Moy Park, Pilgrim’s UK and Pilgrim’s Food Masters with the three existing food businesses having a combined workforce of over 20,000 people across 35 locations in the UK and Europe.
Career Pathways
Dedicated to championing careers in the food industry, Moy Park created 100 new apprenticeship roles across its GB and NI sites. With opportunities from Level 2 to Level 6, the apprenticeships were designed to nurture the next generation of talent across a range of disciplines including engineering, operations, food safety and quality.
Sustainability
Moy Park kick started its biodiversity project with the planting of 350 trees on the grounds of its facility in Ballymena. Working with local schools and businesses including Slemish College, Straid Nurseries, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the Woodland Trust, Moy Park has been working to enhance biodiversity around its Ballymena facilities, helping maintain a more diverse ecosystem in the local area and offset carbon emissions.
As part of our continued dedication to championing local biodiversity, Moy Park sponsored the People’s Park in Ballymena. The People’s Park provides a peaceful environment in an otherwise busy urban setting for local residents, including our employees to relax and embrace nature.
In 2022, Moy Park achieved ‘Platinum’ level for the ninth successive year in the Business in the Community Northern Ireland (BITCNI) Environmental Benchmarking Survey, ‘Platinum’ level status in the BITC NI Business and Biodiversity Charter and achieved the Sustainability Award at the 2022 Ballymena Chamber Business Awards.
Community and Charity Initiatives
Moy Park continued to support local groups and charities as part of the £1 million Community Support Fund established in 2020 to support organisations local to its operations across Europe.
As part of its two-year charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity - teams from across Moy Park took part in various fundraising activities helping raise awareness of the charity and the work they do to help those affected by dementia. Activities included sky dives, quizzes, marathons, and a hike to the summit of Slieve Donard as staff hit the £50K fundraising mark in December 2022.
Building on Moy Park’s range of existing and long-established community measures, the ‘Spring Chicken’ initiative was launched by Moy Park in Spring 2022. This provided local food banks across GB and NI with quality nutritious produce to help those struggling with everyday living costs and poverty in local communities.
By the end of 2022 calendar year, Moy Park had contributed over 400,000 meals to FareShare since the beginning of its partnership in 2015, helping reach those in need with nutritious, healthy food. Distributed by charities across the UK, these meals reached community groups supporting families and children, elderly people, those suffering with mental health conditions and services supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Supporting local schools and colleges, Moy Park donated over 160 Chromebook computers to nine schools, providing much needed digital resources for pupils and helping to assist with classroom and at-home learning.
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2021
Moy Park has had its commitment to achieving net zero emissions validated by the SBTi.
Moy Park announced the Alzheimer’s Society as its official charity partner for the next two years.
We celebrated after receiving three internationally recognised awards for demonstrating high health and safety standards. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awarded Moy Park the Gold Award for the seventh consecutive year, as well as the Fleet Safety Gold Medal for the sixth year, and the Fleet Safety Technology Trophy.
The company has launched two new learning and development programmes, which have been rolled out across its Finance and HR teams. As well as providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities, each Academy offers regular workshops (face-to-face and virtual), bite-sized e-Learning, and a variety of online and video resources. Participants will also benefit from full access to an internal mentoring and coaching programme.
Moy Park has received globally recognised certification for soyabean traceability. The Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard from the Round Table on Responsible Soya Association (RTRS) recognises Moy Park’s Northern Ireland supply chain - from source right through to customer.
Moy Park placed the largest single order of IVECO natural gas trucks in the UK, committing to mass decarbonisation of our transport operation with 50 Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) IVECO Stralis NP, IVECO UK’s largest single order of gas trucks.
We launched our GB LGV Driver Apprenticeship scheme for those looking to ‘change gear’ and begin an exciting new career with an award-winning food company.
Congratulations to our Technical and R&D Director Europe, Ursula Lavery, who has been awarded an Associateship from CARAS, for her research on biosecurity, animal health and performance.
During 2021 Moy Park has donated 16.5 tonnes of fresh surplus chicken to FareShare, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity.
Moy Park is funding the training of adult social care workers, who will provide nursing and specialist care for young people, adults and the elderly, including specialist dementia care. The company has agreed to transfer £165,000 from its apprenticeship levy fund, enough to support potentially 40 NHS apprenticeships.
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2020
Safety:
• Recognised with the RoSPA Gold Occupational Health & Safety and Gold Fleet Safety Awards.
Investment:
• The Craigavon site now boasts some of the most efficient and modern manufacturing technology available, including packaging technology, inline failsafe calibration capability, a new high-volume inspection line and added advanced chilling equipment.
Sustainability:
• Zero waste to landfill position was maintained throughout the year and food waste reduced by more than 1,000 tonnes in 2020; and
• Achieved the top level ‘Platinum’ result in the Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey for the eighth consecutive year.
• Moy Park together with its partners Queen’s University Belfast and JF McKenna, has been successful in attracting funding from Innovate UK to develop their £250,000 ‘Ideal Home’ project. With a life span of over 30 years, a poultry house presents a significant investment for farmers. The ‘Ideal Home’ project will focus on animal health and welfare while improving heating, ventilation, lighting and feeding systems through energy efficient and sustainable solutions.
Employee development:
• Moy Park on-line academy with over 1,000 e-learning modules;
• Launch of Commercial and Technical Academies with Finance, HR and Agriculture Academies in the pipeline;
• Partnership with the Leadership Pipeline enabling us to offer learning experiences for our first line leaders;
• Continuation of Values Workshops, including virtual sessions;
• Early Careers programmes for graduates and a pilot rotational placement programme with structured development;
• Expansion of learning resource library and internal mentoring programme; and
• Succession planning and personal development plans.
• Women working at Moy Park are to gain access to an industry-leading suite of career development tools and mentoring opportunities thanks to a new strategic partnership with Meat Business Women, the female-led group that champions women in the global meat industry.
Community engagement:
• We continued our charity partnership with Marie Curie. Marie Curie is committed to offering the right care and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families, whether it’s terminal cancer or any other illness;
• We donated the equivalent of more than 100,000 meals to FareShare, a charity aimed at relieving food poverty and reducing food waste, distributing this product to charity and community groups across the UK;
• Launched the Moy Park Community Fund pledging £1 million to support on-the-ground projects of voluntary and community groups and charities in those local communities where our sites are based across Europe;
• Inspiring young people through our community engagement which supports and develops youth employment in the economy through training and education outreach, bursaries, scholarships, work placements and experiences; and
• Partnered with Enactus UK in developing a network of socially minded young leaders of the future to create a better, more sustainable world.
• United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust made the decision to temporarily change Grantham and District Hospital into a Green site, meaning that it can be used to treat urgent surgical and cancer patients from across Lincolnshire who had been waiting for their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new Gonerby Road Health Clinic facility was donated to the Lincolnshire NHS by Moy Park, who have also helped develop the facilities and enhance the grounds to provide improved car parking.
• The Chicken Run is where we deliver our products to doorsteps across Northern Ireland and GB. Moy Parks aim is to call on people to nominate someone they know who is deserving of a visit from the ‘Chicken Run’ van – and the winning nominees will receive a food box with enough Moy Park chicken to make six meals for a family. The chicken run food boxes contain a range of different products including a whole chicken, chicken fillets, breaded and ready to eat chicken – there will be something for everyone.
• Moy Park’s culinary team in Craigavon has turned its new product development kitchen into a production line, and is creating 1,000 healthy, nutritious meals a week to be distributed by The Resource Centre Derry (RCD) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The meals we have provided can all be quickly heated up at home and have been made fresh by our culinary team on-site
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