Jobs boost for Haverhill area as Sofina Foods reveals multi-million pound investment in factory and workforce

A producer of meat products on the outskirts of Haverhill is looking to expand its workforce by 64 per cent as part of a multi-million pound investment in the site.

Sofina Foods, which produces cooked sliced meats from the former Karro Foods site next to the A143 in Little Wratting, is increasing its workforce by almost two-thirds as it looks to continue to grow the business.

Site director Kevin Watson, who has a wealth of experience in the meat production industry, said: “We have invested quite a lot of money over the last three or four months to be able to deliver more business. We are launching about £39 million worth of business in the next few months and there is more to come as well. It is a serious commitment.”

That commitment to growth – in the infrastructure, machinery and, vitally, the people that work there – has led to the creation of 72 permanent vacancies at the plant, where currently just over 200 people are employed. It is a staffing increase of 64 per cent.

The positions on offer include engineers, supervisors and team leaders and as part of that, Sofina aims to attract more post-graduates into management roles.

The investment in machinery would take the factory to a new level, said Mr Watson, who added: “We have just at the moment invested several millions of pounds in new machinery which is due to land in about four to six weeks.”

An activation mixer, which would be unique to the UK, was being imported from Poland, said Mr Watson.

“This size, 6,000 litres, it’s the biggest one they make and it will be the first one in the UK of that size.”

Sofina bought Karro Foods in 2021 and now has 23 sites in Europe, in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany, and also has more than 20 other sites in North America and Canada.

The Little Wratting factory supplies its products to huge supermarket chains such as Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl.

It has RSPCA farm-assured meat, with pork making up 90 per cent of what it manufactures, alongside some beef and chicken products.

The factory is also the holder of an AA star grading from the BRC (British Retail Consortium), the highest rating currently possible within the British meat industry.

Sofina is also placing a focus on employee benefits, about which Mr Watson explained: “We have given the site the biggest pay rise it has ever had.

“We are pushing again this year for another inflation-busting pay rise to try and attract more talent.

“It’s about the culture and making its a place where people want to come and work rather than just turn up and do the minimum.”