East Anglian turkey producer Bernard Matthews has switched its water supply provider for its Suffolk production site to Business Stream, Scotland’s largest retailer of non-household water and waste water services.

The three-year deal will also see Business Stream provide Bernard Matthews with consultancy advice on water and waste water efficiency, as well as providing technical expertise on alternative water supply systems.

Business Stream has made clear its intention to enter the English market once full competition is introduced, as outlined in the Government’s recent Draft Water Bill.

In October 2011, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lowered the threshold at which companies can switch water supplier at individual sites to five million litres annually.

The Draft Water Bill, currently going through Parliament, will allow all non-domestic customers choose their water supplier.

Mark Powles, chief executive of Business Stream, said:

“This is a very significant deal for us not only for its commercial value to the business, but as an indication that business customers in England are willing to switch suppliers where they see value in doing so.

“Scotland has been an excellent proving ground for full retail competition in England, which would bring significant choice and benefits to businesses which operate throughout the UK. However this is only the first step as full non-domestic competition as we have in Scotland doesn’t exist in England yet so businesses aren’t yet able to access the same benefits that their counterparts in Scotland can.”

The formal switch from the incumbent Essex and Suffolk Water to Business Stream took place on Wednesday, January 23.

Rob Mears, UK managing director at Bernard Matthews, said:

“Having a free choice of water supplier is an important development for us. It allows us to enter into a genuine partnership with Business Stream and provides access to their advice and expertise which will deliver a range of service improvements and make a real difference to our business’ water usage.”