McWhinney’s Sausages announces £2.2m investment to double capacity

McWhinney’s Sausages, a sixth-generation family-owned manufacturer, has announced a major £2.2 million investment in its Bangor-based production facility.

Supported by Invest Northern Ireland, the expansion is set to double the company’s production capacity and facilitate its first major move into the retail sector.

The investment was officially announced during a factory visit by Economy Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, who praised the firm’s commitment to productivity and export growth.

The centrepiece of the investment is the installation of a new high-efficiency spiral freezer and a state-of-the-art automatic packing line. These upgrades will allow McWhinney’s to automate key processes, significantly increasing output while maintaining the quality of its traditional Irish pork secret recipes, which date back to 1898.

By introducing the new spiral freezer, the company will be able to repurpose its existing freezing infrastructure into a dedicated line specifically for retail packaging.

“This investment is a significant step for our business,” said Kevin McWhinney, managing director of McWhinney’s Sausages. “The new equipment marks our entry into the retail market, allowing us to revisit our retail roots on a much larger scale. This will significantly increase our turnover and open new opportunities across the island of Ireland and further afield.”

Beyond productivity, the project aligns with modern ESG standards. The company is introducing environmentally friendly equipment and transitioning to fully recyclable packaging as part of its sustainability roadmap.

The expansion is also expected to bolster the local economy in the Ards and North Down area. McWhinney’s plans to create four new specialised roles over the next two years.

The project is being supported by £612,000 from Invest NI’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII). Brendan McGuigan, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering at Invest NI, noted that the move is a prime example of a long-established SME utilisng automation to meet growing supplier demand and boost global exports.

“McWhinney’s is a cornerstone of our agri-food sector,” said Minister Archibald. “I welcome their ambition to grow exports and enhance sustainability while supporting jobs and economic activity.”

With the new equipment scheduled to be fully operational later this year, McWhinney’s expects its new retail-ready packs to begin appearing on supermarket shelves by late 2026.