New name for meat-processing plant

Advanced Foods in Hawkes Bay has changed its name to Bernard Matthews.

The meat-processing plant is the second-largest employer in central Hawkes Bay, employing hundreds of people. It became a household name after being built in Waipukurau 17 years ago.

But in 1994 it was bought by established British turkey and pork roast producer Bernard Matthews, which had until then been buying lamb roasts from the New Zealand Meat Board-owned company.

The plant has since been producing lamb products that are branded Bernard Matthews of New Zealand and sold in Britain's supermarkets as small, easy-to-prepare packages.

Commercial director Gerard Hickey said the last of the old Advanced Foods logos in the plant were being removed and replaced this week, to emphasise that it was part of the British-based global group.

Bernard Matthews also has a smaller plant in Gisborne, along with others in Germany and Hungary.

- NZPA