Ulster Unionist MLA Sandra Overend has welcomed the news that 164 jobs are being created at Vion Foods plant in Cookstown as part of an £11.5 million investment.
The Mid-Ulster MLA, who is also the Ulster Unionist Party’s Economy spokesperson, said:
“This is fantastic news for Cookstown and, in fact, for the whole Mid-Ulster area which has suffered very badly throughout the current recession.
Vion Food’s Cookstown plant, still known locally as 'the bacon factory' is already the largest pig processing plant in Ireland with
700 people already employed there.
Vion are a progressive and dynamic company, with suppliers across the country, and further afield, and are well known by the consumer both at home and abroad, the export markets being one which i know they are keen to expand upon.
This is yet another example of the huge potential of the agri-food industry and it's ability to help lift Northern Ireland's economy out of recession. Its been said before and I will say it again: Northern Ireland is good at food - and we have the opportunity to build and strengthen our economy by increasing the potential of businesses to grow their market in this area.
I very much congratulate Vion on their vision and drive to improve on their existing successes and I also give credit to Invest NI for assisting in building their capacity to do so."