In January of this year, Zahid Hussain and Perwaiz Latif paid an undisclosed fee for the Co-operative Poultry Products plant in Cootehill after it had gone into receivership. The plant was put into receivership in October last year resulting from declining profit margins partly attributed to an influx of foreign chicken to the market. The plant had 90 staff as well as 30 growers supplying it.

The plant has been running at a limited capacity over the past few months processing chickens for Hussain and Latif’s Halal business in Britain; however, it has not yet been granted a killing licence. They are believed to have met with a number of TDs in recent times in the Cavan/Monaghan electoral area to lobby them on obtaining of a meat processing licence.

In a parliamentary question by Cavan TD Brendan Smith to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, Smith asked the Minister for an update on the meat processing licence.

In response, Minister Coveney said the application is currently being worked on and the owners must meet certain criteria. “Applications for approval to operate meat processing plants must meet the requirements of the European Communities Regulations 2009 and related EU Regulations,” Coveney said.

“The applicant in this instance has, upon request, provided clarification in relation to the proposed range and scale of activities. As a consequence one of the preconditions for approval has been adjusted and the applicant has been notified accordingly. The onus is on the applicant to meet the conditions of approval,” he added.

IFA poultry committee chairman Alo Mohan has tentatively welcomed the re-opening of the plant but has also urged caution. “It has to be welcomed to see jobs returning to the plant,” Mohan said.

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“However, the two individuals have a poor track record in keeping things going. Both the growers and the workers need to have security and know that they have a strong future,” Mohan said.

Hussain and Latif purchased Cappoquin in October 2008 from the O’Connor family following its entry into receivership. Cappoquin was placed into examinership in August last year following debts of €6 million, the majority of which was owed to feed company Henry Good.

Prior to its entry into examinership, Hussain and Latif attempted to strip a number of the assets from the Cappoquin plant but were blocked by the growers.

Former Cappoquin growers have said they are angry with the pair’s ability to purchase and operate a new poultry processing plant just a year after it ‘ran the company out of business’.