2 Sisters processing plant restarts after water shortage shutdown

Operations have restarted at a 2 Sisters Food Group processing site after they were halted last week due to a lack of water last week.

The Boparan Holdings-owned business stated it was able to secure enough water for operations to recommence at its site in Willand, Devon, on Friday and today (20 July) following discussions with South West Water (SWW).

But, with no long-term solution achieved, a spokesman told The Grocer that 2 Sisters would also need to “bring in water from outside of the area by tanker to allow the site to maintain operations” from Tuesday. The site processes between 900,000 and one million chickens every week.

It comes after SWW drought restrictions, imposed 14 July across Mid Devon and parts of East Devon, forced the site to stop operations on Wednesday and Thursday due to food safety and animal welfare concerns.

SWW had previously stressed it had kept water pressure to the facility above the legal minimum standard and responded to additional water requests.

Despite the disruption, 2 Sisters insisted the shutdown to the processing plant, which processes up to one million chickens a week, had not affected customers’ supply.

“We have been able to continue supply to customers during this period by utilising our network of poultry processing facilities across the UK,” the spokesman said and this was confirmed by one supermarket.

But it comes as the British Poultry Council last week expressed concern that the situation could be replicated across the country when other water companies “see they can act with impunity” on water supply.

“Access to water for the purposes of livestock welfare and food supply should be prioritised by the government, in the same way that carbon dioxide is prioritised,” it warned.

South West Water was approached for comment.