Moy Park’s chief executive Janet McCollum said, “We are a European business and Europe is our market – and we are strongly in favour of the UK remaining within the EU.

“Remaining in the EU gives businesses greater certainty about the future. Within the EU, we have open access to 27 markets and 500 million consumers.

"In the event of a Brexit, no-one has been able to guarantee our continued access to those markets. Any move away from the free market in which we currently operate could increase tariffs, add administrative burdens and limit export opportunities.”

The £1.4 billion turnover company cites uncertainties around market access, access to labour, cross-border trade and the potential impact on the farming community as “compelling reasons” why the company is in favour of remaining in the EU.

“The EU has imperfections but it is a massive market which offers export security and it is our view that the UK should remain within it,” Ms McCollum concluded.