Mr Ballantyne, who was previously General Manager at Moy Park, has 27 years experience working in the poultry industry, during which time he has worked his way up from a hatchery supervisor to being responsible for a team of 450 and over 100 farms.

Commenting on his appointment Mr Ballantyne said: "I am delighted to be joining Bernard Matthews at a very exciting time for the business. The company has been a thriving farming business for 60 years, and has been at the forefront of innovation within the poultry industry. I look forward to working with the team and adding to their expertise."

Jeff Halliwell, Bernard Matthews' UK Managing Director, said: "This is a major coup for the business. With the recent acquisition of the Lincs free-range business, and a large Christmas order book, is excellent news that Andrew as chosen to join the company. He not only brings extensive experience of managing large farming operations, but also a wealth expertise within the poultry industry."

Mr Ballantyne began working in the poultry industry in 1983 for Padleys and held a range of posts within the organisation before joining Moy Park in 2001. He has a HND in Microbiology and Higher Technical Diploma in Food Science and Technology.