McWhinney’s Sausages invests £2.2m to increase productivity and growth

Pictured (L-R) are Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Invest NI; Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Minister for the Economy; Kevin McWhinney, Managing Director, McWhinney's Sausages

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced that Bangor-based McWhinney’s Sausages is investing £2.2 million in new equipment to increase productivity and automation.

McWhinney's will significantly increase production capacity by introducing a new spiral freezer and automatic packing line, which will help the company grow its exports and develop new products.

Visiting McWhinney’s factory at Balloo Industrial Estate in Bangor, the Minister said: “This investment will allow McWhinney’s to double its capacity, automate key processes and boost productivity.

“I welcome the company’s ambition to grow exports, enhance sustainability, and expand sales across the island.

“McWhinney’s is a long established part of our agri food sector, and this investment will support jobs and economic activity across the Ards and North Down area.”

McWhinney's is a sixth-generation family business which supplies a range of high-quality sausages to fish and chip shops, hospitality venues and outdoor catering industries based locally and in Britain.

Kevin McWhinney, Managing Director at McWhinney’s Sausages, said: “Our new equipment, supported by Invest NI’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative, marks a significant step for our business. A new spiral freezer will allow us to repurpose our existing freezer into a dedicated retail packing line, enabling us to enter the retail market.

“This will significantly increase our turnover, help us to increase innovation and open up new opportunities in the Republic of Ireland and further afield. Since we moved to Bangor in 1994, we have focused entirely on wholesale business. It’s exciting to revisit our retail roots on an increased scale and serve the public directly as we did since 1898.”

Invest NI has offered McWhinney's Sausages £612,000 towards the investment through its Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII).

Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Invest NI, said: “McWhinney’s significant investment in new equipment and automation will enable it to increase productivity, to meet supplier demand, grow its exports and boost sustainability. As well as increasing sales in the ROI market, our trade team is helping the company to explore new European markets such as Spain. The company’s increased output will help it to capitalise on these opportunities and create room for further product innovation as its automation increases.”

As part of the project, McWhinney’s will introduce environmentally friendly equipment and fully recyclable packaging. The company also plans to create four new jobs over the next two years, including a Floor Supervisor, Sales Executive, and two Production Operatives.

Iain Joannides, Head of Regional Business for the Eastern Region at Invest NI, added: “We’re helping businesses in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area such as McWhinney’s to boost operational efficiencies and take the next step in their export journey. Ultimately, this helps local companies become more profitable and competitive to benefit the local economy.”