Boparan Private Office (BPO) has announced a £100 million investment in British turkey, which it said was driven by “increased consumer demand for healthier protein”.
BPO, which owns turkey brand Bernard Matthews, said its Bernard Matthews site in Halesworth, Suffolk would be at the forefront of the investment.
The investment will include general building improvements, new amenities for the 700 colleagues based at the site, a new lairage, new processing and refrigeration equipment and the introduction of advanced digital tools and robotics.
BPO said this will enable Bernard Matthews to deliver higher welfare and develop new high protein products to join the company’s 64 all-year-round turkey products.
With around 7% (May 2026 Food Foundation survey) of the UK population using or having used GLP-1 weight loss drugs, demand for healthier protein is at an all-time high, said Boparan. It highlighted turkey as a high protein, lower fat and lower calorie meal option that meets the needs of health-conscious Brits, stating that it sees “big opportunities” to grow the market through its traditional retail customers.
Boparan said it will draw on the experience of leading German turkey producer, Heidemark Group, acquired by Boparan Private Office in February.
Turkey “not just for Christmas”
President and founder of Boparan Private Office, Ranjit Singh, commented: “We are about to ramp up turkey production for the traditional British Christmas, but looking beyond the festive spike, we also see big opportunities to offer this healthy, low fat, high protein alternative all year round, in a much bigger and more exciting way than anybody is doing right now.
“We’ll learn from our new European partners and work to create new opportunities for British turkey farmers and exciting new turkey products for our customers.
“This £100 million investment in our turkey business will drive innovation, improve animal welfare and create a healthier and more sustainable British food supply chain – a key aim of our £2 billion NextGen strategy.
“We intend to show that turkey is definitely not just for Christmas.”
