Royalty marks further expansion for UK egg company

The purpose-built centre has allowed the company to expand its production infrastructure, with significant future growth potential.

The 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sqm) centre, built with support through a Defra grant, along with specialist machinery, has enabled the business to grow from 1 million eggs per week to 2-3 million eggs per week, with scope for future development.

The Tonks family diversified into poultry in 1982 and founded St Ewe Free Range Eggs in 2007 when they began packing their own free-range eggs for supermarkets under their own brand.

Welfare and feed consistency across producers

All of the company’s 28 producer farms are kept in the same high welfare, free-range conditions, are Red Lion accredited and fed the same feed from Wynnstay Humphrey Feeds and Pullets as the home farm flocks.

Bex Tonks, CEO of St Ewe Free Range Eggs, said she was honoured to have the HRH Princess Royal officially opening the packing centre: “I hope that it demonstrates how our British family business supports other family farms around the UK. If it wasn’t for their dedication to farming and the hard work of our whole team, St Ewe Free Range Eggs wouldn’t be where it is today.”

She highlighted that British farmers play an important role in nurturing the nation’s food system, as well as delivering a wide range of environmental and rural community benefits which, she said, span well beyond the farm gates. “Supporting British has never been so important, and we feel incredibly proud to be part of this magnificent industry,” said Tonks.

The company is known for its innovative products, most recently introducing vibrant Rich Yolk orange and yellow egg cartons in Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s, that are crafted from 100% recycled and recyclable paper, powered by ‘green planet energy’, utilising 100% wind and water energy.