Protestors picket poultry production plant

Vegan campaigners from the Scunthorpe Chicken Save movement swooped on lorries delivering birds to the plant, located on the Foxhills Industrial Estate, in a demonstration against the chicken meat trade.

Members of the group approached drivers arriving at the site in an attempt to engage with them.

Raise awareness​

Spokesman Steve Peters told FoodManufacture.co.uk ​that the group was at the plant to promote a vegan lifestyle and, in effect, change the supply and demand for meat products. It also aimed to encourage industries to provide plant-based food that didn’t rely on the “exploitation of sentient beings”.​

“We’re peaceful, friendly and non-confrontational. We like to establish good relationships with food production employees,”​ said Peters.

“We have partly achieved our aims by attracting media attention, but have yet to be able to stand and bear witness to individual chickens at Scunthorpe, due to lack of communication from 2 Sisters.”​

The protest followed similar action by Scunthorpe Chicken Save outside the factory on January 25. The group said it planned further action at the site.

Further vigils at Scunthorpe​

“As it stands, we intend to hold further vigils at Scunthorpe and to persist with attempting to exchange views with 2 Sisters. We don’t intend to disrupt their business in any way,”​ added Peters.

“To stop one truck for one minute would be a good start. Other factories have done their best to facilitate our vigils without any difficulties, with some giving us up to five minutes with each truck.”​

Scunthorpe Chicken Save said it would welcome any discussion that 2 Sisters wished to have.

However, 2 Sisters declined to comment on the protests.