Process plant bought

A large Maori farming company has bought a Hawkes Bay meat processing plant, Fresh Meats.

Integrated Foods, described as the largest single controlled farming operation in the Gisborne area, planned to become a "totally vertically integrated food company", managing director Gary Alexander said.

Integrated Foods is a subsidiary company of Mangatu Blocks, which is one of the biggest Maori incorporations.

The processing plant, based in Napier, is primarily a lamb-processing facility and also processes ewes and pigs.