Junee Prime Lamb plans to upgrade its abattoir facility in Australia

Australia-based meat processing company Junee Prime Lamb is planning to invest A$30m ($21.4m) for upgrades at its abattoir facility.

The investment follows after Junee Prime Lamb secured a ten-year supply agreement with supermarket chain Woolworths.

With a workforce of 210 employees, the Junee Abattoir processes around 10,000 lambs per week for Woolworths.

Junee Abattoir director Heath Newton said: “We’re upgrading our animal shelters, processing floor and cold storage, as well as building the new freezing capability to ramp up our export business.

“These are big and ambitious investments, but we have the confidence to make them because of our long-term supply agreement with Woolworths.”

The company anticipates that the upgrade is expected to create 90 full-time jobs at the Junee Abattoir if volume increase in line with forecasts.

Woolworth senior lamb livestock buyer David Hudson said: “Junee Prime Lamb are great business partners producing top quality fresh lamb for our customers. Since 2016 they’ve significantly increased their production capability and now supply up to a third of our fresh lamb on the eastern seaboard.

“They have a real appetite for growth and willingness to invest in their business in support of our partnership. We’re excited about the transformation plans at Junee and what it will unlock for our mutual customers.”

In February, UK’s Hilton Food and Australian supermarket chain Woolworths extended the meat supply contract by signing a long-term agreement.