Profits up at NI poultry producer Moy Park

Image caption, Last week Moy Park was bought by the US company Pilgrim's Pride in a 拢1bn deal
  • Author, John Campbell
  • Role, 大象传媒 News NI Economics & Business Editor

Moy Park, the Northern Ireland-based poultry producer, made a pre-tax profit of 拢41m in 2016 on a turnover of 拢1.4bn.

That compares to a profit of 拢9m in 2015 when the company had a number of one-off expenses.

The company said it had been "a strong performance in the face of challenging global market conditions."

Last week Moy Park was bought by the US company Pilgrim's Pride in a 拢1bn deal.

Its previous owners, the Brazilian firm JBS, put the business up for sale in June as part of a wider plan to raise money.

Meanwhile another of Northern Ireland's major employers, Randox, has achieved an annual turnover of 拢100m for the first time.

The County Antrim healthcare diagnostics company also made a pre-tax profit of 拢12m, down from 拢18m in 2015.

The firm continued to spend heavily on research and development, with total R&D spending of almost 拢11m.

Randox is continuing to develop new research and manufacturing facilities at the former Massereene army base in Antrim.