2 Sisters installs contingency measures after water restrictions disrupt Devon poultry plant
The company is installing emergency water storage while working with South West Water to avoid further disruption.
UK – UK poultry processor 2 Sisters Food Group has introduced contingency measures at its Willand processing plant in Devon after water supply restrictions disrupted operations for two consecutive days, raising concerns about continued production.
The company said restrictions imposed by South West Water at the Cullompton facility interrupted processing on Wednesday and Thursday, affecting supplies destined for major retail customers.
Although water supplies had been fully restored on a short-term basis by Friday, 2 Sisters said there was no assurance that further interruptions would not occur over the weekend or during the following week.
As part of its response, the company is installing static water storage tanks at the Willand site while holding daily discussions with South West Water to manage the situation and reduce the risk of future disruptions.
2 Sisters said water is required throughout poultry processing operations, including hygiene and food safety procedures that are legally required, adding that any significant reduction in supply could prevent the site from operating safely.
The company stated that it has already reduced water consumption by almost 30%, warning that further cuts would make it impossible to meet food safety, animal health and welfare standards.
Welfare and supply chain concerns
Earlier this week, 2 Sisters said prolonged interruptions could lead to animal welfare challenges, including increased bird mortality, overcrowding on farms, a higher risk of disease and wider disruption across the poultry supply chain.
South West Water introduced hosepipe restrictions across parts of Devon, including Cullompton, from Tuesday after two periods of extreme heat increased daily regional water demand by around 5.4 million litres, placing additional pressure on drinking water supplies.
The utility said it had responded to several requests from 2 Sisters by providing extra water on a temporary basis to allow the processor to handle birds already on site and within its immediate supply network, while the processor implemented its business continuity plans.
South West Water added that it is maintaining daily communication with the company to agree measures that protect poultry processing operations, preserve the local water network and maintain supplies for surrounding communities.
The water supplier also said pressure delivered to the processing plant has remained above the legal minimum standard and noted that it had engaged with the company before introducing restrictions to identify opportunities to reduce water use and improve site resilience.
Owned by businessman Ranjit Singh Boparan, 2 Sisters Food Group supplies own-label poultry products to major UK supermarket chains including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer, while also supplying chicken products to KFC.
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