August 19, 2016 11.54 am This story is over 91 months old

World-leading £45m Scunthorpe poultry plant investment secures 1,600 jobs

A £45 million investment will create the world’s most advanced poultry processing plant in Scunthorpe, securing 1,600 jobs in the process. 2 Sisters Food Group will introduce new robotic cells to create a fully automated process that will increase the capacity of the site by a third to 2.4 million birds a week. The Scunthorpe…
Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

A £45 million investment will create the world’s most advanced poultry processing plant in Scunthorpe, securing 1,600 jobs in the process.

2 Sisters Food Group will introduce new robotic cells to create a fully automated process that will increase the capacity of the site by a third to 2.4 million birds a week.

The Scunthorpe site, which opened in 1988, currently processes 1.8 million birds per week.

Part of the multi-million pound investment will help to improve animal welfare, quality and presentation of the finished product.

The improvements to animal welfare come on top of a £10 million programme to reduce campylobacter levels in poultry.

At the end of 2015, the 2 Sisters’ business launched a £150 million investment programme in the group’s UK poultry business, which phased over three years, will create a world-class and industry leading estate for poultry manufacturing.

Dan Whillock, 2 Sisters Scunthorpe General Manager, said: “The whole team is delighted that Scunthorpe has been selected for such a major investment, the biggest since the site was built in 1988.

It has been a huge boost to the workforce and is just reward for the hard work and dedication of our great people over the last 28 years.

“The project has taken many months of planning and our goal has always been to build a truly world class facility, using the very latest technology to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, bio security and product quality for our customers.”A

2 Sisters spokesman added: “This investment is a clear demonstration of our commitment to Scunthorpe, making this key centre the world’s most advanced poultry processing plant.

“2 Sisters is in the midst of a £150 million programme to revolutionise how poultry is processed in the UK for the benefit of our customers and consumers in general.”