New target for Farmgate sales

“Farmgate sales to the local community is a growth area,” says Mr. Kelly in his annual Farmgate Hatcheries (UK) letter to customers. “Food miles are on people’s minds and what can be more eco-friendly than buying a turkey produced on the local farm. Study your customer base, get close to them and produce what you know you can sell; but do not rely on maybe selling surplus turkeys at the last minute.”

Commenting on an upswing in orders for turkeys across the range last Christmas, Mr. Kelly expresses confidence that the market for good quality farm fresh turkeys will continue to grow. For the first time in 23 years they supplied a newly opened butcher’s shop: “Not a deli or farm shop — but a real live high street butcher. Fantastic!” Their own experiences in farmgate sales last year showed that whole birds did not reduce, while breast joints and crowns were up by eight per cent — half the increase of the previous year indicating that growth in this sector is starting to plateau. Organic turkeys were up by 6 %, but they did not have enough 8 to 10 kg birds to meet demand.

The 2007 Poult Price List provides the choice of five different breeds — Tiny, Super Mini, Roly Ploy, Wrolstad and Plumpie — all available in bronze and most in white feathered strains. Hatching starats during the week beginning May 21 up to September 17, with prices up by an average 3% to cover increased costs.

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