Michael Pollitt, agricultural editorA new �5m multi-species abattoir is opening as planned in early August to serve East Anglia's livestock producers.The new slaughterhouse at Eye will create 35 jobs and is the biggest investment by the long-established C & K Group.Michael Pollitt, agricultural editor

A new �5m multi-species abattoir is opening as planned in early August to serve East Anglia's livestock producers.

The new slaughterhouse at Eye will create 35 jobs and is the biggest investment by the long-established C & K Group. Two senior directors, Chris and Kevin Burrows, will be at the Royal Norfolk Show on Wednes-day and Thursday to meet farmers and talk about the new meat plant.

It will open on August 2 and forms a central plank of the �5m investment by C & K to create a world-class facility to serve the eastern counties.

The 40,000 sq ft plant has received significant funding from the East of England Development Agency and could reach turnover of more than �30m within the next three years.

The decision by the Burrows brothers to invest in a new cutting plant and slaughterhouse at Eye is against a backdrop of the loss of eight abattoirs in the past 10 years.

The abattoir, which is alongside the existing C&K Meats plant, will also feature carbon-reducing features such as rainwater harvesting and refrigeration heat recovery.

Throughput will double production at the current Lamberts site at Earsham, near Bungay, and the total workforce should rise from 55 to 90. It will give livestock producers a new slaughter option and shorten distances from farm to meat plant.

The launch of the "Glocal first" strategy aims to ensure that the finest-quality locally-produced meat is promoted and sold in the region.

The Burrows brothers, who started C & K in a back garden shed, have grown the business into a multi-million operation. The original cutting and preparation company, C&K Meats, employs 20 staff and the firm also runs a fleet of eight refrigerated vehicles to deliver meat to butchers and retailers.

Kevin Burrows, managing director of Lamberts, will be on the stand throughout the two days to discuss progress on the opening of the new site and plans moving forward.

The C&K Group's Lamberts the Abattoir will be on stand 308.

Don't miss our 56-page guide to the show in Tuesday's EDP.