March 20, 2008

Tesco questioned over poultry processing route
 

Giant UK retailer Tesco is understood to have admitted to shipping Scottish chickens for poultry in Essex, England before shipping them back to sell in Scotland. 

The closure of Grampian Country Food Group's Banff site left Tesco with no other choices, according to Max Tooley, meat technical manager for poultry.

As a result, Scottish chickens from Grampian's Cooper Angus slaughter plant were sent to an Essex plant for processing before being shipped back for sale in Scotland, Tooley explained.

A pending investment of GBP 2 million (US$4 million) could change the situation that has been ongoing for about six months.

"Two Sisters has recently bought Mitchell Brothers in Scotland and we¡¯re waiting to approve their site for all our Scottish chicken," said Tooley.

He added that once the processing facilities are approved, Tesco would be turning its Scottish poultry business to Two Sisters.