NATIONAL EGG AND POULTRY Awards 2021
Soanes Poultry
POULTRY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Henry Lamb, Crowshall Vet Practice
YOUNG FARM VET OF THE YEAR
Soanes is a growing business that has shown admirable commitment to investing in its farming base as well as its processing operations. It has increased turnover and profitability and is ploughing resources into training and recruiting staff. It has a committed leadership team and is an all-round success story, improving its product range as well as its infrastructure, with exciting plans for future investment and growth.
Within just three years, Henry Lamb has gained much experience, has shown evidence that he has contributed to a reduction in use of antibiotics, improvements in biosecurity, improving birds’ welfare, health and production for his clients. He has clearly shown he has worked with colleagues as a team, and has introduced new initiatives in for his practice including in improving mental health of staff and assisting in sustainability.
Steve Tinkler, AJ Forster Ltd
YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR
Megan Afford, Moy Park
YOUNG PROCESSOR OF THE YEAR
In just a short period, Steve Tinkler has made a big impact on both his farm, Beaverlodge Farm in Cumbria, and on another, Greengill Foot Farm, where is an advisor. As well as excellent results, his overall attention to detail has helped motivate other staff to be dedicated, competitive and helpful, and has driven antibiotic use down to zero.
Megan Afford is passionate about the poultry industry and has made steady progress since she joined the industry four years ago. She is a fantastic advocate for the industry and is keen to show other young women that poultry industry is a great place to have a career.
Griffiths Farm
PULLET REARER OF THE YEAR
PD Hook Hatcheries
HATCHERY OF THE YEAR
In a tightly fought category, Griffiths Farms demonstrated they have thoroughly embraced their customers’ requirements, working closely with clients and NGOs to develop their methods and rearing systems. As well as excellent communication with customers, they have also taken on two graduate trainees to specifically look at keel bone strength and are continually on target with a high flock evenness and a low mortality.
PD Hook’s Dalton site has strong performance against KPIs, and a very thorough approach to biosecurity. It is impressive that so many of its staff have been with the business for several decades, and is a tribute to the way the hatchery is managed. It has invested heavily in improving the site and there is a strong focus on staff training, and hatchery management have regular meetings with staff to ensure there is an opportunity for people to feedback and to inform the team of what is happening in the wider business and industry.
Sean Harrison, H. Timmis Farms Ltd
GROWER OF THE YEAR
David Ashton
EGG PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
As well as outstanding feed conversion rates, and good performance overall, Sean Harrison looks to ways to continually improve the way he grows broilers. He is also an impressive advocate for farmers taking care of their mental health and speaking out if they need help.
Phil Ashton has an impressive drive, passion and eye for detail that has led to excellent results on his layer unit. He has a strong approach to ongoing training for his four staff, and places an emphasis on biosecurity, food hygiene, bird welfare, range checks, and litter management.
Ellis Eggs
EGG PACKER OF THE YEAR
HECK
PROCESSOR OF THE YEAR
Ellis Eggs has managed to find a winning formula of growing its business while launching innovative new products such as its BEELOVED egg brand, and maintaining collaborative relationships with its suppliers. It is also impressive to see Ellis is working with Lloyds Animal Feeds to reduce reliance on soya in feed.
HECK has shown a striking commitment to its staff. It has a big focus on being a quality employer and its ambitions for growth are very well balanced alongside its people and its brand. A good investment programme mixed with providing perks such as a hot meal every day for employees, a creche, and dog hotel, show it places loyalty and staff retention as its highest priority. These measures, alongside major investment in new equipment, are paying dividends.
Eggbase
TRADE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Graham Bell, Clive Soanes Broilers
UNIT MANAGER OF THE YEAR
The only award voted for by the readers of Poultry Business, this award recognises excellence in businesses that supply the poultry industry.
Graham Bell’s dedication to his birds and to achieving excellent results has helped drive his unit forwards and becoming the best performing farm within the business. His colleagues praised his work ethic and good sense of humour, and it is clear he is totally dedicated to his work and to driving the business forwards.
St. Ewe Free Range Eggs – Super Eggs
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
An exciting new product that will add value to the category and inspire other poultry producers to enter the health, fitness and wellbeing sectors.