Griffiths Family Farms
Poultry Business of the Year
After being founded in the 1960s, Griffiths Family Farms grew to become the largest colony producer, packing over one billion eggs per year. As the market has changed, so has Griffiths, and the business is now converting to cage free with 500,000 hens so far on new systems. It has invested in a new muck burner that will make 1.25 mega-watts of electricity and has also recently opened a new liquid egg plant, showing it is a business fit for the future.
Sean Harrison
Unit Manager of the Year
Sean Harrison has worked in the poultry industry for the past ten years, For the past 2.5 years, he has worked for H. Timmis Farms on a 300,000 broiler site situated just outside Telford and has worked to continually improve performance. In 2021, Harrison came top of the Moy Park league performance league.
Matthew Donald, Donald Pig & Poultry
Young Farmer of the Year
Matthew Donald has been part of his family’s pig and poultry business, in North Yorkshire, for twelve years and became a director nine years ago. His thorough research into building performance over the last few years has guided investment in new technology and machinery.
Charlotte Norman, St David’s Poultry Team
Young Farm Vet of the Year
Charlotte Norman graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019, and after an internship with St David’s Poultry Team, she took sole charge of the Yorkshire branch in July 2020. Norman enjoys engaging with the farm staff to develop trusting relationships
Charlene Sedgwick, HECK
Young Processor of the Year
Charlene joined the business when she was just 19 and has now been in the business for 10 years. Her first job was on the packing line, but she was quickly promoted and has now progressed into the production office.
Annyalla Chicks
Hatchery of the Year
Annyalla Chicks is a family-run business founded in 1981 and currently produces in excess of three million broiler chicks per week. Average hatchability of Ross 308s at the start of the year is 83.93%, with a hatch of fertile average of 93.61%.
Steve Tinkler, AJ Forster
Grower of the Year
Steve Tinkler works for A J Forster, a family business in Cumbria that owns two broiler farms. Beaverlodge Farm has achieved an average EPEF of 421 over the last seven crops. His growth rates are on average 70g a day, with FCR lower than 1.5.
The Good Egg Fellas
Egg Producer of the Year
Excellent animal husbandry and welfare are the key pillars of the Good Egg Fellas business. The marketing strategy has been focused on the hens’ welfare and the business sells direct to the public as well as to a number of pubs, restaurants and cafés.
Wot-a-Pullet
Pullet Rearer of the Year
Wot-a-Pullet is a family-owned, independent, and expanding business, currently managing 21 of its own farms across the UK. In 2020, pullets were on average 33g over breed standard with 90% evenness. The company also puts sustainability to the fore, with many of its rearing farms heated with sustainable biomass.
St Ewe Free Range Eggs
Egg Packer of the Year
St Ewe’s has expanded significantly in the past year, investing £4.8m in a new packing centre with the support of Defra grant funding. Its new 50,000 sq ft facility has increased processing capacity more than fivefold, which will allow it to serve more customers, employ more people and attract a greater number of producers.
Moy Park
Processor of the Year
Moy Park is one of Europe’s leading poultry producers. The company has partnered with academics that have helped shape the industry, including the development of platform perching which has been adopted into Red Tractor standards, and a three-year study which helped support the approval of Hubbard’s Redbro breed under the Better Chicken Commitment.
Dalton Engineering
Trade Supplier 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. Dalton Engineering has been in the poultry business for over 30 years, specialising in poultry feeding, drinking and ventilation systems.
Maire Burnett, British Poultry Council
Special Achievement Award
Maire Burnett is technical director at the British Poultry Council. She is the trade association’s lead on important issues such as avian influenza, antibiotic resistance, animal health and welfare, Brexit and international trade policy. During the worst avian influenza outbreak this past season, she has supported member businesses by keeping them up to date on the current AI situation, helping them with movement license issues and overcoming export problems
Aled Griffiths, Griffiths Family Farms
Lifetime Achievement Award
His leadership within the industry has earnt him his reputation worldwide, including running The Centre of Excellence for animal welfare and egg production. He is an inspiration to many and is a truly deserving recipient of this award.
PD Hook (Breeders)
Breeding Unit of the Year
The PD Hook breeding unit in Chippenham is part of its regionalisation programme of rearing and breeding chickens which has enabled the development of a safe, biosecure and efficient integrated agricultural operation. The unit has had two flocks exceeding the Ross targets by some margin.
Avara Foods
Innovation of the Year
Avara Foods is the first end-to-end poultry supplier to have implemented an automated system of biocide control for pathogen suppression in its hatchers.
This innovation has been implemented with Sonas Developments in the UK. To provide significant benefits in worker health and safety, animal welfare and commercial performance.