2 Sisters admits to “mistakes” at Parliamentary inquiry

2 Sisters chief executive Ranjot Singh Boparan admitted to “mistakes” that has seen the food group at the centre of food safety allegations.

He was grilled by nine members of the Commons Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the wake of footage which appeared to show malpractice in one of the group’s West Midlands factories.

Boparan told the committee he was “absolutely not aware” of potential problems at the site until he was first contacted by the Guardian, which worked with ITN on the investigation.

“We were very disappointed and upset when we saw the footage for the first time,” he said.

“We absolutely apologise for the doubt this has caused to our customers, consumers, and our employees. We are committed to improve food safety every day.”

Boparan appeared alongside 2 Sisters’ group technical director Chris Gilbert-Wood.

He acknowledged “the whole supply chain suffers” when allegations like this are made.

The Select Committee also heard evidence from the chief executives of the British Poultry Council, Red Tractor and the Food Standards Agency, as well as Sandwell Council chief executive Jan Britton.

The inquiry is looking into the role and performance of the Food Standards Agency, Sandwell Metropolitan Council and accreditation bodies. It is also exploring “the potential ramifications of the allegations made against 2 Sisters for the poultry sector and the wider food chain”.

Boparan added:” “We train our staff when they join us. There is a four hour induction programme. They are retrained every 3 years. There are signs up across the whole factory, do not pick up product off the floor.”

Committee chairman Neil Parish said he will “accept his word that he will improve and put things right” before warning “God help him if he’s got to come here again and he hasn’t put it right”.

An undercover report by the Guardian and ITV published claims about activities at 2 Sisters’ West Bromwich site, including changing date labels on chicken products and mixing poultry of different ages.

Production was suspended at the factory, known as Site D, where the footage was taken and the group began a re-training programme for its staff.

Its customers, including all of the large supermarket groups, have taken steps to review their own relationships with the company and have sought reassurances about its processes. One of the allegations made was that product that had been returned by one customer was repackaged and sent out to another retailer.

The Food Standards Agency has already widened its investigation into food safety issues at 2 Sisters to the group’s 11 other poultry plants in England and Wales.

2 Sisters’s UK poultry division employs 7,000 people and generates around half of the group’s £3bn annual sales.

Its most recent published annual accounts, for the year to July 2016, showed pre-tax profits of £110m. It is due to report its financial performance for the year to July 2017 next month.