Western Brand Chicken, the Mayo-based chicken processor, recorded pre-tax profits of €8.3m for its 2018 financial year, which is down almost 15% on the previous year’s profits.

Operating profits in the business were also down 15% to just over €8.2m as operating profit margins narrowed from 9.2% in 2017 to 7.6% last year.

Despite the fall in profits, Western Brand Chicken reported sales growth of 4% last year as turnover grew to just over €108m. The net asset value of the business increased by €7m in the year to just under €60m.

Owned by the Lannon family, Western Brand Chicken operates from two state-of-the-art processing facilities located in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, and Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Primary processing takes place at the Ballyhaunis site, which has the capacity to process about 26m chickens per annum. The Lisnaskea site produces more added-value breaded chicken products.

Western Brand Chicken employs more than 500 people.