Bird flu and planned strike action at a key distribution site are likely to lead to tightened supply of turkeys this Christmas, producers have warned.
The turkey sector has been particularly hard hit by this year’s bird flu season, with major supplier Kelly Turkeys warning the impact of rising cases could affect supply in the run-up to Christmas day.
Its owner Paul Kelly warned bird flu had alread reduced the numbers of turkeys available to retailers this year, adding “choice will be more limited”.
His comments were echoed by British Poultry Council CEO Richard Griffiths, who said turkeys had been hit and “it is an incredibly difficult and worrying time for poultry producers, particularly for seasonal birds in the run-up to Christmas”.
He added that the sector was “working hard to mitigate the impacts” and was being supported by the government so that it “can provide as close to a normal supply as possible”.
Bird flu cases have been steadily increasing over the past week, with the latest confirmed case at the time of writing at a commercial poultry facility in Breckland, Norfolk. There have been a total of 58 confirmed cases so far this season, compared to 81 for the entire 2024/25 season and six in the year before, according to Defra.
Turkey supply issues are also likely to be exacerbated by strike action at a significant turkey facility. Workers tied to the GMB union have begun a two-week walkout at cold storage business Magnavale’s facility in Easton, with action set to end on 14 December.
According to GMB, the Lincolnshire site employs around 100 people and is one of the area’s largest storage facilities for frozen turkey products in the run-up to the festive period.
“These workers aren’t asking for the world, just a pay packet that covers the bills this Christmas,” said GMB organiser Andy Groves, who lambasted a recent pay offer as “a total insult to hard-working members of staff”.
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“This site is one of the UK’s frozen turkey capitals, serving up meaty yuletide treats to families across the Midlands,” he added. “Company top brass need to get back around the table with a serious offer, and quick.”
Magnavale has played down the concerns explaining that the strike action only impacts 35 members of staff at the site. It added that “there is no risk to any ongoing operations, and all business operations will continue as usual with no interruption”.
It comes as turkey prices are already on the rise, with The Grocer revealing in October that year on year prices had jumped by up to 30%, with more than half of all frozen turkey lines in supermarkets outpacing inflation.
Industry insiders attributed price hikes to retailers trying to make up for dampened profits, the increase in employers’ National Insurance, bird flu, and other inflationary pressures.
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