Scottish poultry growers hit by 2 Sisters cut

Contract broiler growers in Scotland supplying 2 Sisters Food Group have been put on two flocks notice and asked to take a 5p/kg price drop for their remaining birds.

This follows announcements that the 2 Sisters’ Letham plant in Forfar is being sold off, while the Coupar Angus plant in Perthshire, acquired from Vion earlier this year, is being downsized.

In the wake of potential job cuts at 2 Sisters Food Group in Coupar Angus and potential reduction in shifts, NFU Scotland has written to the major retailers this week to urge that they make a strong commitment to source more chicken from Scotland.

NFU Scotland understands 2 Sisters is negotiating at present with its major retail customers to identify future volumes and profile required from Scottish producers. The outcome of these negotiations is key to determine the shape not only of 2 Sisters’ processing operation but also farm production in Scotland.

At this crucial stage NFU Scotland has written to all the major retailers, including Tesco, Asda and Morrisons to stress the importance that they do their bit to ensure the future of the Scottish poultry industry.

On the back of talks with the Scottish Government a focus group is to be set up to look into the impact this announcement will have on the agricultural sector as a whole. It will be tasked to identify the key challenges faced by this sector in sustaining market share and in the long-term, increasing the volume of quality production.