Packington Pork brings home the bacon
A pig farming business in Staffordshire has expanded its land with a £600,000 loan from Barclays Corporate.
Packington Pork said the extension has allowed it to grow the number of pigs it sells by 400 to 1,500 per week.
The third and fourth generation farming business is managed by father and son Roger and Rob Mercer, who supply free range pork to more than 100 butchers shops around the country.
Paul Brough, Barclays' agricultural banking director, said: "Mercer Farms is a fantastic example of a farming business that produces a high quality product which is well received by consumers. Its environmental and animal welfare credentials are second to none which is extremely important in today's market where consumers are becoming increasingly more aware of businesses practices."
Rob Mercer added: "I am pleased that Barclays Corporate has recognised our ambitious growth plans and supported us with the funding to allow us to grow. The volatility in the markets makes it a difficult sector to operate in and I constantly monitor food prices to ensure that we can operate on decent margins."
Packington Pork also operates a 300-acre environmental scheme which involves flooding meadows, planting various species of plants and flowers and a 20-acre lapwing reserve.
