James is from Stranraer in South West Scotland and has 128,000 layers and supplies Noble Foods. 

“BFREPA has a critical role in the industry, deciphering the ever-changing policies and fighting the corner of all producers great and small, always with the producer in mind.”

Trevor has 20,000 birds supplying L J Fairburn & Son.

“I have been involved in BFREPA for more than a decade and have seen the benefit it brings the free range egg sector through its lobbying and influence. There is no other organisation solely representing our interests.” 

“I am responsible for liaising with all BFREPA’s external stakeholders, including the EU, UK and devolved governments and their agencies, retailers, packers, assurance schemes, and other industry bodies such as the BEIC and NFU.

“BFREPA will continue to be vitally important in defending the interests of producers against the increasing influence of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the power of other players in the supply chain.”

“I have watched BFREPA grow to become an extremely professional, well supported organisation, delivering significant benefits and services to free range egg producers and I am very proud to be part of the team.

“I believe free range egg producers need their own association more than ever. With Brexit looming and the constant pressure on prices as free range becomes more the mainstream, it will be important for BFREPA to keep the interests of the industry on the political agenda and to reinforce the British origin and high welfare benefits to consumers.”

Awaiting Bio

Ben is a public relations consultant to the agriculture and food industries. He is a director of Eve Communications with his wife, Katie, and has been working for BFREPA since 2014. Ben’s role is to handle questions and enquiries from both the trade and consumer media and convey BFREPA’s key messages through a range of broadcast, print and digital publications. Katie has a background in marketing and market research and runs the organisation’s social media channels to reach both farmers and consumers with content relating to free range eggs.

John is from Merlin Eggs in Somerset and has 9,000 birds in total, supplying half to Waitrose and half to private sales.

“I represent the South West to try and provide a voice for producers with the government, regarding new legislation and other inspection bodies. BFREPA is very important because there is no other voice for the free range sector.”

Louise is from Twin Oaks Farming Ltd in South Shropshire and has 32,000 layers, supplying Anglia Free Range Eggs.

“As I producer it’s important to get to grips with the issues facing the industry and be able to represent other farmer’s views. With a background in marketing, there may be an opportunity for me to help increase BFREPA’s profile as well as consumer engagement in the future.”

Andrew is from Woodcock Farm Ltd in Derby, has 18,000 free range birds and supplies Noble Foods.

“Through my work with Bowler Eggs and as a producer I have been involved in free range egg production for 20 years, therefore I have a large invested interest with BFREPA. It will be important in the future to help maintain the voice of the producer to make sure they are being heard by retailers in the ever-changing marketplace.”

Tim is from J.V.Bradley Ltd in Lincolnshire, has 80,000 birds and supplies Noble Foods and Bumblehole Foods.

“I am involved with BFREPA because they do great work in keeping the free range industry healthy and moving in the right direction. They will continue to be as important in the future as they are today. They work for every single free range producer and the industry as a whole.”

Charlie has 45,000 birds supplying an independent packer and rears his own replacement pullets.  

Catherine farms in partnership with her parents in North Northumberland. They have 800acres of arable and 57,000 free range hens supplying Lintz Hall.

Pauline is from Sherriff’s Wood Eggs Ltd in Wales, has 21,500 hens and supplies Sainsbury’s Woodland and Stonegate.

“BFREPA plays an important role in representing its members in all aspects of the industry and will be ever more important as new challenges continue to arise.”

Ian and his wife have 24,000 free range layers and supply Bowler Eggs. 

Adam is from A & J Webster Eggs Limited has 32,000 hens and supplies Noble Foods Ltd.

“I am involved in BFREPA to hear up to date information about the free range industry and to try and have a voice in shaping the future of the free range industry.”

“I hope that BFREPA will be very important in developing post-Brexit free range policy, particularly with regard to welfare issues.”

Martin has 32,000 birds.

Trevor has just over 12,000 birds supplying Northern Ireland Egg Producers.

Steve is from Country Fresh Pullets in Shropshire, and rears 7.5 million pullets a year.

“I am a co-opted member for my experience in pullet rearing. I feel it is very important that we promote BFREPA as the producers’ organisation to steer the industry.”

Olivia is from Potter’s Poultry in the Midlands, who produce over one million birds a year.

“BFREPA will be very important in the future, supporting the needs and interests of their growing membership.”

Richard is from Bitteswell Farms Ltd in Leicestershire, who have 118,000 free range layers plus up to 40,000 replacement pullets. Around 50% of their eggs go to their own packing station, which are then sold onto various outlets. The other 50% are sold to other packers. The business also rears all their own replacement pullets and produces its feed in their own feed mill.

“I’ve been a free range egg farmer for 30 years and feel I have knowledge and experience that can be of use to BFREPA.

“It’s important that the free range farmers have a strong united voice to protect our interests and help to shape our future.”

Martin keeps the BFREPA Council up to date with feed & commodities information.

Gary provides liaison between BFREPA & the NFU. BFREPA CEO Robert Gooch has a reciprocal seat on the NFU national Poultry Board.

Jeff has now retired from egg production but was a founder of BFREPA, still provides consultancy services to Noble Foods, sits on the ‘RSPCA Assured’ advisory group and is Chairman of the British Egg Association. 

Newlands farm eggs is a family run, stand alone packing operation selling and marketing its own eggs throughout the south west. It is responsible for a producer base that has 22,000 free range hens and 30,000 colony hens. The family also operates a farm shop and a small online food retail business for self catering holiday lets. Scott is a committee member of the Laid In Britain quality assurance scheme.