AVARA Foods has issued an important update about the future of its Hereford factory shop, which closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With more than two years gone by questions have been raised as to whether it will reopen.

The shop at the factory – owned by one of the UK’s largest food businesses, Avara Foods – had been open for years, with locals popping by to pick up bargain price chicken products, including nuggets.

But a spokesperson for Avara Foods said it had no plans to reopen the shop.

They said: “We closed the Hereford shop as a result of the Covid pandemic and, at present, have no plans to reopen.”

The company said it made £2 million more profit before tax last year despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the year ending May 31, 2020, its turnover was up five per cent.

After publishing the annual report and financial statement for Avara's second full year of trading after the joint venture between Cargill and Faccenda started, it said the impact of coronavirus was "significant" and hit trade, costs and margins in the final quarter.