Western Brand Chicken, the Mayo-based chicken processor, recorded pre-tax profits of €9.7m for its 2017 financial year, which is in line with the previous year’s profits.

Operating profits in the business were also steady at just over €9.6m, as operating profit margins held firm at a very strong 9%. Western Brand Chicken reported a 3% increase in turnover during 2017 to just over €104m, while the net asset value of the business increased by €8.5m in the year to €52.5m. The group had cash equivalents of €20m at year end.

Owned by the Lannon family, Western Brand Chicken operates from two state-of-the-art processing facilities located in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo and Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Primary processing takes place at the Ballyhaunis site, which has the capacity to process about 26m chickens per annum. The Lisnaskea site produces more added-value breaded chicken products. Employing more than 480 people across both locations, Western Brand Chicken has sales contracts in Ireland and the UK with customers such as Dunnes, Tesco and both the German discounters.