Once operating at peak capacity the plant will employ about 60 people.
It has improved handling facilities and an enhanced configuration.
The slaughterboard, boning room and offal area are larger than those at Alliance’s venison processing facilities at Smithfield and the company’s former Makarewa plant.
Alliance chief executive David Surveyor said “This investment … shows how serious we are about strengthening our presence in the deer industry.
“We are delivering on our strategy of investing in maximising our operational performance.
“The opening of this plant also reflects our commitment to continuing to invest in New Zealand’s rural communities.
“We are proud of our Southland roots and we employ more than 2000 people in the region alone.
“Lorneville is an important part of our processing network and an important contributor to the co-operative’s success.”
Alliance is working hard to capture greater value for Pure South venison in the co-op’s global markets, Surveyor said.
“In addition to marketing venison in Germany and Europe for the game season we are selling into the United States and United Kingdom markets with value-added propositions.
“Our goal is to increase out-of-season chilled consumption while at the same time continuing to grow sales of our seasonal chilled venison.”
