Duck processor Silver Hill Foods has increased output in the last five years from 36,000 ducks per week to 82,500. It has plans to double turnover and increase processing output to 150,000 ducks per week in the next five years.
Based in Emyvale, Co Monaghan, the family-run firm operates in a vertically-integrated supply chain, with 21 farmers on both sides of the Irish border supplying Peking duck. The company exports duck to 24 countries, with 70% of turnover coming from export markets.
“Asia is going to be the concentration of our growth. Our success in Singapore has given us confidence to target Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan in the next two years,” chief executive Micheal Briody said at the opening of the Centre of Excellence building on the main site on Friday.
He said that there would need to be significant investment in processing and farmer suppliers to reach growth targets set by the firm in the coming years.
Brexit
The UK market represents 45% of exports at Silver Hill, with Briody stating that the company would have to continue to trade strongly with the UK, while focussing on new market growth elsewhere.
“Brexit has affected us in Silver Hill, but a combination of open dialogue with UK customers and strategically hedging feed and other supplies have allowed us to shield some of that effect,” he said.
The company was founded in 1962 by the Steele family and up until 2011 only had one outside farmer grower supplying ducks for processing.
“We hatch, match and dispatch all our own birds, the only thing we don’t do is manufacture our own feed, but other than that we are completely integrated,” Peter McCollum from Silver Hill told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Ducks are reared in a 42-day growing period and killed at 3.5kg body weight. Rearing is similar to broiler production, with heating required in houses initially until ducks produce enough body heat themselves. Growing ducks are housed on plastic slats, however breeding and laying ducks are on shavings.
Research and development
Silver Hill duck is used primarily in Asian-style foods, with the new 1,700m2 Centre of Excellence building constructed primarily for the research and development of new products for customers.
“We also do research and development from the live bird side. We are always looking for better feed conversion and more efficient ways of producing duck,” McCollum said.
Silver Hill duck has been bred for roasting qualities, which sells well in Chinese communities in Britain and, more recently, in top end restaurants in south east Asia, particularly in Singapore.
Opening the new €3m building on Friday, agriculture Minister Michael Creed said that developing new export markets in emerging countries, like Silver Hill has done, is the continued aim of the wider Irish agri food industry.
“This company has helped grow employment, with 200 staff on-site in an area where there have been limited employment opportunities. There is also additional downstream employment and supplementary income for farmer suppliers,” he said.
Listen to an interview with Peter McCollum from Silver Hill below:
Listen to “Peter McCollum from Silver Hill foods outlines his expansion plans for duck processing company” on Spreaker.
Read more
Humphreys to attend poultry meeting
Duck processor Silver Hill Foods has increased output in the last five years from 36,000 ducks per week to 82,500. It has plans to double turnover and increase processing output to 150,000 ducks per week in the next five years.
Based in Emyvale, Co Monaghan, the family-run firm operates in a vertically-integrated supply chain, with 21 farmers on both sides of the Irish border supplying Peking duck. The company exports duck to 24 countries, with 70% of turnover coming from export markets.
“Asia is going to be the concentration of our growth. Our success in Singapore has given us confidence to target Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan in the next two years,” chief executive Micheal Briody said at the opening of the Centre of Excellence building on the main site on Friday.
He said that there would need to be significant investment in processing and farmer suppliers to reach growth targets set by the firm in the coming years.
Brexit
The UK market represents 45% of exports at Silver Hill, with Briody stating that the company would have to continue to trade strongly with the UK, while focussing on new market growth elsewhere.
“Brexit has affected us in Silver Hill, but a combination of open dialogue with UK customers and strategically hedging feed and other supplies have allowed us to shield some of that effect,” he said.
The company was founded in 1962 by the Steele family and up until 2011 only had one outside farmer grower supplying ducks for processing.
“We hatch, match and dispatch all our own birds, the only thing we don’t do is manufacture our own feed, but other than that we are completely integrated,” Peter McCollum from Silver Hill told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Ducks are reared in a 42-day growing period and killed at 3.5kg body weight. Rearing is similar to broiler production, with heating required in houses initially until ducks produce enough body heat themselves. Growing ducks are housed on plastic slats, however breeding and laying ducks are on shavings.
Research and development
Silver Hill duck is used primarily in Asian-style foods, with the new 1,700m2 Centre of Excellence building constructed primarily for the research and development of new products for customers.
“We also do research and development from the live bird side. We are always looking for better feed conversion and more efficient ways of producing duck,” McCollum said.
Silver Hill duck has been bred for roasting qualities, which sells well in Chinese communities in Britain and, more recently, in top end restaurants in south east Asia, particularly in Singapore.
Opening the new €3m building on Friday, agriculture Minister Michael Creed said that developing new export markets in emerging countries, like Silver Hill has done, is the continued aim of the wider Irish agri food industry.
“This company has helped grow employment, with 200 staff on-site in an area where there have been limited employment opportunities. There is also additional downstream employment and supplementary income for farmer suppliers,” he said.
Listen to an interview with Peter McCollum from Silver Hill below:
Listen to “Peter McCollum from Silver Hill foods outlines his expansion plans for duck processing company” on Spreaker.
Read more
Humphreys to attend poultry meeting
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