When it comes to tradition and longevity, there are very few companies – if any – in Ireland that can match Manor Farm – the home of Irish chicken. In addition to being the largest chicken processing company in the country, with its genesis dating back across the centuries to 1775, Manor Farm is also one of Ireland’s longest-established businesses. Through all this time, the Carton family have invariably placed a major emphasis on quality, foresight and sustainability, resulting in exceptional products, processes, personnel and service levels.
Any list of Ireland’s leading agri businesses would not be complete without the inclusion of County Cavan headquartered Manor Farm – the company which introduced the chicken as we know it into Ireland in 1956 and today employs over 1,000 people as well as working with 189 farmers, primarily from Cavan and Monaghan. Almost 250 years on from its genesis, Manor Farm continues to set the standards and remains in rude health financially according to the latest financial figures released.
For 2020, the company behind chicken processor Manor Farm recorded a pre-tax profit of €17.8 million – up 61 per cent on the €11 million recorded the previous year. Accounts released in November also show that Carton Bros Unlimited – now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swedish group Scandi Standard – saw its 2020 turnover rise almost 8 per cent to €200.9 million (up from €186.2m) while its after-tax profit rose to €15.4m from €9.6m.
Despite the additional costs and disruptions incurred across the calendar year due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, Manor Farm nevertheless employed an average of 1,019 people in 2020, predominantly in production – a slight increase on the previous year’s workforce. As well as being a highly-profitable business producing a wide range of industry-leading chicken products, Manor Farm is also a multi-award-winning entity, scooping major industry awards year on year in keeping with its implementation of the highest operational, environmental, management, quality and Health & Safety procedures.
In 2020, for example, Manor Farm collected the IFSA Best Sustainable Food Product Award at The Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) awards, where the Manor Farm Foodservice division was recognised for its ‘Farmers to Market’ Free-Range Chicken Thigh Burgers, which are listed on bar menus in Maldron and Clayton hotels across the island of Ireland. Farmers to Market is open to producers and suppliers with food products produced in a manner that simultaneously protects and enhances the natural environment and the local community. The award represents due recognition of Manor Farm’s sterling efforts to consistently produce the best quality product without compromising on their sustainability goals.
Commenting on Manor Farm’s ‘Farmers to Market’ Free-Range Chicken Thigh Burgers, the judges observed that: “The winner took a well-known food material and re-imagined it whilst working closely with their own suppliers in a strong and environmentally-friendly manner with very strong community support. The simple chicken thigh has a new life.”
Manor Farm has been the processing partner for Farmers to Market since its establishment in 1991. Bord Bia quality assured free-range chickens are of upmost importance to Manor Farm in producing the highest quality product possible. Manor Farm pride themselves on setting an example in the poultry industry with their supply chain checked and verified by independent sources.
As of November 1st, 2021, Frank McMyler has been appointed as country manager of Manor Farm, replacing Ado Carton, whose resignation was announced the previous September. The new country manager has vast experience leading large fresh food businesses internationally and has held a range of senior leadership positions in the sector. He is a former regional chief operations officer of Hilton Food Group plc and was managing director of the business in Ireland and the UK for over 11 years.
Commenting on the appointment, Otto Drakenberg, interim managing director and CEO of Scandi Standard said: “The calibre of this appointment represents a major achievement for the business. Frank will bring a renewed impetus and momentum to Manor Farm through fresh and innovative thinking, backed up by a wealth of experience in the sector where he has proven his abilities in a number of different roles – both commercially and within operations – building engagement and highly-functional teams.”
Manor Farm are very proud of their farmers and of the hard work they do to bring the finest quality chicken to market. The majority of these farmers are found in the traditional chicken farming areas of counties Cavan and Monaghan as well as counties Meath, Louth, Limerick and Waterford. All farmers, throughout all Manor Farm ranges, are hand-picked to ensure the highest-quality chicken. They only grow for Manor Farm and comply with all standards so the chickens are nurtured and live happy fulfilling lives.
All Manor Farm chickens are fully traceable back to the farms where they were reared, which are all located in the Republic of Ireland. Standard chickens are fed the highest quality feed, produced in Manor Farm’s own feed mill, located in Shercock. The feed changes, depending on the stage of growth, but is made up mostly of wheat, with other ingredients including soya and rape seed.
All Manor Farm chicken (be it everyday, free range or corn-fed chicken) is 100% Irish and produced to only the very highest standards. A wide range of chicken products caters for all foodservice needs and the company tailors its chicken to individual customer needs where required. Farmers rear the chicken with the bird’s welfare and sustainability for the environment as key pillars, in keeping with the motto “A Better Chicken for a Better Life”.
Manor Farm whole birds supply the best value for money and are very versatile. Every piece of the bird can be used. It can simply be used as is for a roast or can be spatchcocked. It can also be portioned, on or off the bone. Even the carcass can be used to make a delicious broth. Fillets can be used in any dish and cook much quicker than a whole chicken. Fillets can be butterflied, diced or left whole.
Delicious stuffed breasts are a great alternative to a whole stuffed chicken. They cook much quicker and are full of flavour. Spicy wings, drumsticks or thighs are an ideal party food or starter, packed full of flavour. They are best cooked in the oven or on the BBQ. Mini fillets are extremely versatile and cook in an instant. They can be used in any recipe but are best for quick cooking methods such as frying or grilling.
Chicken burgers with a hot & spicy breadcrumb coating are perfect for a quick and convenient meal. These are full of flavour and using chicken meat is a healthier alternative to red meat. Chicken thighs are often the forgotten cut but are very versatile and great value. They can be used in any dish, casserole or curry, or can be marinated and cooked on their own. Any bones can be used to make a delicious broth.
The Manor Farm team have also been hard at work developing the highest quality chicken mince, made from 100% Irish chicken breast fillet. Chicken mince is a low-fat alternative to regular mince and can be used for all mince recipes like spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, tacos and meatballs
For tempting packs of chicken chasseur, delicious skinless chicken thighs in an Italian-style marinade with sliced green, red and yellow peppers present a perfect way to add some flavour to a meal – ready to cook and something the whole family will enjoy. Meanwhile, although liver is often forgotten, many delicious dishes can be made (such as pate, stews and pies) using liver, which is very high in iron (an essential mineral in the body).
Manor Farm free range chickens are slow grown which means they have long happy lives. They have access to green pasture, food and water and clean bedding at all times to express natural behaviours. This also results in the chickens developing a fuller flavour and texture, incomparable to other breeds.
All Manor Farm corn fed chickens come from local farmers in counties Cavan and Monaghan and are fully traceable back to the farm they came from. The company uses only a select number of farmers to grow corn fed chickens, which are bred on a diet that contains more than 50% maize (corn), giving the meat a unique golden appearance but more importantly an exceptionally succulent roasted flavour. Other ingredients in their feed includes wheat and soya. Corn fed chickens are completely unrivalled in taste, texture and look.
Boasting a proud and successful past, this historic company also has both eyes fixed firmly on the future. To this end, Manor Farm is constantly improving and introducing new sustainability measures to mitigate its environmental impact, making a conscious effort in adapting production and packaging methods in order to minimise their impact.
They have an on-site wastewater treatment plant and are accredited to the environmental standard ISO 14001, while all their shredded paper is donated to a local cattery and kennels business. Manor Farm are members of Plastic Action Alliance and Repak. Under Repak’s Plastic Packaging Recycling Strategy 2018–2030 and based upon the European Commission European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, they established new recycling targets which aim to recycle 50% of all plastic packaging waste by 2025 and 55% by 2030.
Manor Farm,
Shercock,
County Cavan.
Tel: 042 9691100
Fax: 042 9669698
email: [email protected]
Web: www.chicken.ie
