2 Sisters boosts poultry farms in southwest England

Valued at GBP27.5 million (US$35.5 million), investments in the southwest of England last year by 2 Sisters Food Group are already bearing fruit.

(Wol Wol | Freeimages.com)
(Wol Wol | Freeimages.com)

Valued at GBP27.5 million (US$35.5 million), investments in the southwest of England last year by 2 Sisters Food Group are already bearing fruit for the firm’s poultry producers in the region, according to a company press release.

The lion’s share of this investment–GBP25 million (US$32.3 million)–was used to build additional poultry houses and modernize older buildings at farms run by Hook 2 Sisters, a joint venture between 2 Sisters and PD Hook. PD Hook’s hatchery at Kentisbeare in the county of Devon has also been able to expand its output by 50 percent compared with a year ago, and there is capacity for further expansion in the future.

In the Southwest region alone, there are 12 company farms and more than 130 independent family farms rearing broilers for 2 Sisters in a range of housing systems and to different animal welfare standards.

One of the standard farms will be open for the public to see how chickens are reared. By using the newly built viewing gallery, these visits will not impact biosecurity or bird welfare.

Local broiler output increased

Responding to the commitment shown by 2 Sisters, local broiler producers have increased their output in recent months.

“The investment in our growing base has injected fresh optimism, and provided our outdoor farmers with the confidence to grow their business alongside ours,” said Chris Chater, Hook 2 Sisters general manager in the region.

“The increase in the growing base means that our Willand facility is now processing over a million birds every week, which is a fantastic achievement by our colleagues and a new milestone for the site,” said a spokesman for 2 Sisters.

Background of 2 Sisters poultry meat company

According to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, 2 Sisters Food Group is Europe’s sixth largest poultry meat company, slaughtering an estimated six million chickens and turkeys per week.

In April 2017, it was reported that the Group was considering the closure of its poultry meat processing plant at Smethwick in the West Midlands. At the same time, some aspects of the sale of turkey company, Bernard Matthews by Rutland Partners to 2 Sisters’ holding company, Boparan Private Office, were subjected to parliamentary investigation.

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