Pukeuri plant gains third shift
Meat processor and exporter Alliance Group is starting a third shift at its Pukeuri plant as it ramps up cattle processing in the peak period.
The additional shift at the plant, north of Oamaru, will enable the company to process 880 extra cattle per week through May and June when the cattle throughput traditionally hits its peak.
The third shift will also offer about 80 existing employees, from the sheep and lamb processing shifts, a longer season.
Alliance Group is upgrading the plant including extending the cattle yards ahead of the change.
Alliance Group processing general manager John Brader said the additional shift was necessary to ensure Alliance continued to meet the needs of suppliers.
"This is something we have been planning for some time. Significantly boosting the plant's capacity at peak times represents good news for suppliers and the company," he said.
"Alterations have been made in our systems to accommodate the additional cartons, giving more flexibility to which blast freezers or equilibration chillers the products can be directed.
"The cattle yards amenity area will also be relocated to enable us to expand the cattle yards."
