SUN VALLEY Foods has invested £2.5 million in a new packing hall at its Yazor Road food processing plant in Hereford.

The upgraded facility is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art cutting and packing machinery designed to help the company expand its business in the retail market.

The new packing area will supply whole chickens and chicken portions for rotisserie and meat counters in supermarkets across the country.

Sun Valley has significant business with retailers such as Morrisons, J Sainsbury and Iceland in this area and it is hoped that this investment will result in opportunities to explore other business avenues.

The plant was officially opened by Morrisons deputy managing director, Marie Melnyk, and will allow the company to better meet the needs of its retail partners, offering the latest technology in packaging, weighing and grading of products.

Sun Valley's Managing Director, Hugh Guill said: "The food business is a constantly changing environment and it is important that we continually look at ways to meet our customers' ever evolving needs and product requirements. This latest investment demonstrates our commitment to maintaining our position as one of the country's leading food processors".