Australian poultry company Ingham’s is planning to build a new hatchery in Victoria.

The planned hatchery is valued at AU$46 million (US$33 million) and is being built to replace an existing hatchery.

Jim Leighton, managing director and chief executive officer of Ingham’s, told Finance News Network the investment is an example of the company’s commitment to stakeholders in supporting infrastructure projects that result in growth. The hatchery is expected to improve productivity and support the increase in demand for poultry products.

The new hatchery is expected to be completed in 2020.

Ingham’s is also creating local jobs in the Victoria area through the new hatchery. About 100 people will be employed during the construction process. Once the hatchery is built and fully operational, about 20 people will be employed there.

Ingham’s, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, is Australia's largest producer of poultry meat, supplying about 40 percent of the domestic poultry market.

Inghams operates more than 340 vertically integrated facilities across Australia and New Zealand. Ingham's operates 74 breeding farms, 225 broiler farms and nine distribution centers in addition to numerous feed mills, hatcheries, processing and further processing plants.

Leighton in October was selected to fill the chief executive position with Ingham’s, bringing to the company leadership experience he gained with other companies including Aryzta, 40North Foods, Perdue Farms, Hain Celestial and ConAgra Foods. He succeeded Mick McMahon, who left the company in August. Quinton Hildebrand served as the interim CEO between McMahon’s and Leighton’s tenures.

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