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MEAT INDUSTRY VETERAN DAVID PALMER HAS TAKEN UP THE CHALLENGE OF BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A SHROPSHIRE ABATTOIR...

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR APPOINTED

Dan Morris has joined the board of Daysdrove and taken on the role of Commercial Director within the business, effective from the beginning of June. He will work initially in a part-time capacity (3 days/week) alongside General Manager David Palmer and have specific responsibility for developing high value new business and building key customer relationships.

Dan’s experience with Dawn Meats and more recently Welsh Country Foods (Vion) will be highly valuable as Daysdrove extends the scope of its business. His presence will also enable David Palmer more time to focus on key areas such as quality stock procurement, staff management and development, and improvement of operational efficiency.

March 9, 2010

SOUTH SHROPSHIRE ABATTOIR ACHIEVES ORGANIC STATUS

The Daysdrove abattoir at Bishops Castle, Shropshire, is now fully certified for the slaughter and processing of organically reared cattle, sheep and pigs to the standards required by one of the leading control bodies, Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G).

An audit by OF&G in February ascertained that Daysdrove’s processes from reception through to slaughter met with the required rigorous criteria covering animal welfare, humane treatment and traceability. Standards applied by OF&G, which became the first government-approved organisation to inspect and licence organic food and farming in the early 1990s, are based on EU Organic Regulation.

Organic producers supplying Daysdrove are advised to check with the abattoir well in advance of their requirements, as specific days will be dedicated to the process and stock will usually be required early in the day.

December 2nd, 2009

RE-OPENING OF BISHOPS CASTLE ABATTOIR PROVIDES

TIMELY BOOST FOR FARMERS, BUTCHERS AND WIDER LOCAL ECONOMY

Daysdrove is now open for business, reinstating Bishops Castle's three species abattoir after more than two years of closure.

Livestock farmers, butchers and other local meat sector businesses in Shropshire and the Welsh borders have received a welcome boost with the re-opening of the abattoir in Bishops Castle.

New owner Daysdrove Holdings Limited, set up by over 60 local farmers and business people, has successfully refurbished and modernised the three-species facilities following the acquisition in the summer. The company has now gained the necessary approval to begin operations with immediate effect.

According to general manager David Palmer, the primary focus of the business will be the provision of high quality local meat for local people. This, he stresses, will be achieved by working alongside the area’s butchers and farm shops to provide the essential slaughter and butchering services needed to deliver local meat products.

“We are located in the heart of one of the best livestock producing regions in the country and are surrounded by farm shops, butchers, and restaurants striving to meet the demand for local meat,” he says. “The missing link is a local abattoir focused on providing services for local businesses, so we intend to fill the gap.

“The success of Daysdrove will be good news for this area as a whole, as we shall be providing an alternative outlet for livestock farmers, a vital service for local food businesses, and consumers will have far more opportunities to buy locally sourced meat.

“In time we hope that the Daysdrove brand will become familiar to everyone, and automatically associated with key criteria such as quality, local procurement, low food miles and high animal welfare standards.”

Based in Bishops Castle, just a few miles from the Welsh border, Daysdrove is the only three species abattoir in Shropshire. The company aims to operate on behalf of businesses offering both Shropshire and Welsh food provenance, and is also committed to achieving organic status at the earliest opportunity.

The re-opening of the Bishops Castle abattoir by Daysdrove has already created six full time jobs, with the number of permanent positions expected to increase over the coming months as the business develops. Key positions for the future will include office administration plus additional slaughter and butchery personnel.

Further information is available at www.daysdrove.co.uk and enquires can be made through the Daysdrove office by calling 01588 630726 or emailing office@daysdrove.co.uk.

September 9th 2009

KEY APPOINTMENT KEEPS ABATTOIR RE-OPENING ON SCHEDULE

David Palmer, the new general manager
of the Daysdrove abattoir at Bishops Castle.
Download HI-RES jpg

The appointment of a highly experienced general manager to run the recently acquired three-species abattoir at Bishops Castle maintains the momentum for an autumn re-opening reports new owner Daysdrove Holdings Limited.

David Palmer, a farmer’s son originally from the east Midlands with widespread livestock industry and meat trade experience, took the reins at the south Shropshire facility on 1st September. His previous roles have included large scale abattoir management, quality livestock procurement, and the development of several branded quality meat schemes for major supermarkets. He is an MLC-trained grader (live and deadweight) and has previous experience in farm assurance, animal welfare and food hygiene.

“David has proven practical and management ability throughout the abattoir process and most importantly has demonstrated real enthusiasm for this role,” said Daysdrove director Malcolm Corfield. “His focus in the coming weeks will be on the refurbishments required ahead of re-opening as well as recruitment of lairage, slaughtering and butchering staff.

“It has been our aim since the acquisition at the end of June to be in a position to re-open during the autumn and the prospect of achieving this has taken a very positive leap forward with this key appointment.

“Daysdrove will initially be focusing on contract slaughtering, butchering and meat maturation for farmers, butchers and other meat industry businesses in the locality. We are now urging potential customers to let us know of their autumn requirements by contacting David Palmer at the Love Lane site in Bishops Castle or by emailing us at office@daysdrove.co.uk."

Daysdrove Holdings Ltd is located on the Love Lane Industrial Estate, Bishops Castle, Shropshire and is the only three-species abattoir in the county. The business is aiming for organic certification and will pursue a business philosophy based on local procurement of high quality livestock. Daysdrove aims to work with local farmers, butchers and caterers to facilitate the development of high quality locally branded meat products, reducing food miles and raising animal welfare standards in the process.

Further information from: Malcolm Corfield
01588 650205 or 07721 346991

Issued by Matt Mellor, ABC Ltd
Tel: 01694 731777 Email:

The text from this news release can be downloaded directly from the Agriculture/Livestock and Food Chain/News sections of the ABC press centre at www.abccomms.co.uk

7 July 2009

SHROPSHIRE ABATTOIR CLOSER TO RE-OPENING FOLLOWING ACQUISITION

Re-opening of a south Shropshire abattoir has moved a significant step closer following the acquisition of Bishops Castle Meat by local investor group Daysdrove Holdings Limited.

The aim of the new Daysdrove business is to have management and staff in place in order to be operational during the autumn of this year, thereby ending a two year closure of the facility.

A process is now underway to appoint a general manager to oversee the establishment and development of what will be a very different business to the previous wholesale operation.

“Daysdrove will initially provide a service for farmers and butchers in the area requiring contract slaughtering of locally sourced cattle, sheep and pigs,” explains Daysdrove director Malcolm Corfield. “In time, the business will work with its customers to develop retail meat brands with local provenance, full traceability and highest quality as their defining characteristics.

“This is an opportunity to re-establish a much needed facility in the area. It will create a dozen or more new jobs, provide an alternative marketing outlet for local farmers and allow the region’s butchers, restaurants, farm shops and caterers to meet the demand from their customers for locally-sourced high quality meat products.

“We are so far grateful to over sixty private individuals or businesses who have taken the opportunity to invest in this project and are now shareholders in the new limited company. There is still an opportunity for new investors to come on board, and we are now actively seeking further support from anyone who would like to be involved in the project.”

The Daysdrove abattoir is located at Love Lane, Bishops Castle and is a three-species facility with the capacity to slaughter up to 300 livestock units per week. Close proximity to the Welsh border will allow the business to operate a local sourcing policy with relevance to stock of both Shropshire and Welsh provenance.

Further details and contact points in relation to the project can be found at www.daysdrove.co.uk or email office@daysdrove.co.uk to register your interest in a job, supplying the abattoir or using its services.

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