Pictured above: (l-r) Nigel Wagstaff (Hougthon Hams), Paul
Wagstaff (Houghton Hams), Robert Davey (NatWest)
Family firm Houghton Hams Ltd have expanded their Moulton Park
premises and invested in new machinery thanks to the agreement of
new funding with their banking partners NatWest and the asset
finance provider Lombard.
Houghton Hams is a family run business that specialises in
bringing the best British Pork from regional farms to food
companies and retailers. The business was formed in 1983 by Nigel
and Jo Wagstaff using the old ham cure that had previously been
used by Nigel's former cooked meat employers. In 1989 they expanded
by purchasing a new double building adjacent to their existing site
and added to their presence at Moulton Park in 2008 by opening a
new low risk unit consisting of butchery, curing, bagging and
packing, chilling and freezing facilities.
Today they produce a wide range of pork based products that are
sold to food companies and retailers. Where possible they always
look to work closely with pig producers, retailers and food service
companies in England & Wales to improve the quality and supply
of products across the UK. Part of the reason behind the company's
latest expansion is because this year they have been successful in
obtaining Red Tractor status for their products. The Red Tractor
scheme is the public face of food assurance. The scheme verifies
that farmers are supplying companies and retailers with products
that meet good agricultural standards.
NatWest has utilised funding through the European Investment
Bank to provide a discounted loan for the expansion. Lombard has
provided the new machinery under lease agreements, providing the
business with access to the new machines without eating into their
cash reserves.
Speaking about their latest expansion, Nigel Wagstaff, director
of Houghton Hams said: "We have a very clear proposition that more
and more customers like - the supply of the best possible pork
products at reasonable costs. The increasing demand for our
products mean we need to again expand our premises. This will be
the fourth time we have expanded here at Moulton Park. We like the
location, it works well for us and is handily placed for us to
easily supply our customers across the entire country. The new
machinery we have invested in helps us to increase our production
capacity and improves our production turnaround times as well,
making us even more efficient."
Robert Davey, senior relationship manager, commercial banking at
NatWest in Northampton pulled together the funding package.
"Houghton Hams is a prime example of a well run modern small
business that continues to prosper through a clear understanding of
their market with a product range that fulfils customer demand.
This latest expansion bodes well for their future growth potential
by providing both the physical space and modern facilities to meet
the plans the business has in the medium term."