Outstanding individuals, business excellence, and investment in the future were all celebrated at the National Egg & Poultry Awards 2025, held last night in London with hundreds of guests from every part of the industry.
Business leaders from all the major egg and poultry firms, representatives from industry bodies, and egg and poultry producers met in London for the awards ceremony, drinks reception and gala dinner to celebrate the achievements from across the spectrum of the sector.
Television personality Shaun Williamson hosted the ceremony, where a total of 15 awards were handed out, covering all aspects of the industry from poultry processing, through to innovation in schemes that support egg producers, and three awards specifically rewarding young people making a difference.
Charles Bourns was awarded the lifetime achievement award, in recognition of a lifetime spent advocating for the poultry industry and supporting others in the sector.
The National Egg & Poultry Awards was launched in 2018 as an annual event by Poultry Business magazine and is owned by Farmers Weekly publisher Mark Allen Group.
Superb results from broiler growers, excellent productivity on layer units, and innovative sustainability initiatives were all recognised with a judging panel made up of BPC chief executive Richard Griffiths, BPC chairman Martin Troop, turkey farmer Paul Kelly, BEIC chief executive Gary Ford, BEIC chairman Mark Williams, poultry farmer Charles Bourns, NFU chief poultry advisor Aimee Mahony, NFU poultry board chair James Mottershead, specialist in poultry veterinary medicine Ganapathy Kannan, poultry vet and Crowshall Veterinary Services founder Claire Knott, and Poultry Business editor Chloe Ryan.
The winners announced last night in London are:
Pullet Rearer of the Year – sponsored by Ceva
Lucy Hinch, founder of Hinch Enterprises in Rutland, has made a remarkable impact on pullet rearing in a short time. Her family-run business, now rearing up to 160,000 birds is gaining a strong reputation for professionalism and personal service. Lucy’s dedication is setting a high standard for pullet rearing.
Unit Manager of the Year
Rebecca Reeves of Sir Richard Sutton Limited, manages 30,000 organic laying hens across three Berkshire sites with outstanding leadership and technical skill. Her hands-on approach has driven significant performance improvements, while her focus on staff development and biosecurity has helped transform the estate into a flagship site for Waitrose organic eggs.
Young Farmer of the Year – sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
Jack McAlister has quickly risen through the ranks at Joice and Hill Poultry, demonstrating drive and innovation, and leadership. From apprentice to hatchery planner, Jack’s passion, technical skill, and collaborative mindset mark him as a rising star in poultry farming.
Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Aviagen
Livetec Systems has made a major leap forward in poultry biosecurity with the launch of Livestock Protect, a digital platform introduced in summer 2024. Offering real-time disease alerts with artificial intelligence powered support, the system is already helping to reduce risk across over 3,600 UK farms.
Hatchery of the Year – sponsored by dsm firmenich
Farmgate Hatcheries stands out as a deeply impressive hatchery, supplying 30% of the UK’s fresh Christmas turkey market from its Essex-based site. With exceptional hatchability and a deeply skilled, long-serving team, the business combines innovation and quality with tradition to deliver excellent results.
Highly commended: Avara Foods’ Market Rasen hatchery, led by Emilia Cojocaru, is an impressive example of operational excellence in the broiler sector. With high hatchability rates, industry-leading biosecurity, and a strong commitment to staff development, the facility demonstrates high performance and professionalism.
Egg Producer of the Year – sponsored by Co-op
John and Nicola Peate of Cross Farm are achieving industry-leading results in the free range egg sector, with exceptional flock performance and very low mortality. With a focus on biosecurity, and smart investment in technology, the Peates are leading the way.
Grower of the Year – sponsored by Lallemand
Tom Goodair of Lodge Farm has achieved exceptional broiler performance, with consecutive Ross 308 flock scores nearing 500 and a standout FCR of 1.47. His precise management and collaborative approach with processors exemplify best practice and productivity in modern broiler growing.
Highly commended: Jonny Allen has made big strides in sustainable poultry farming by installing solar-powered electric boilers, significantly reducing fossil fuel use and emissions. His research-driven improvements to heat exchanger technology and commitment to biodiversity and community support have influenced industry practices and advanced sustainable agriculture.
Egg Packer of the Year – sponsored by Huvepharma
St. Ewe Free Range Eggs, led by Bex Tonks, has achieved remarkable growth and innovation, expanding its producer network and doubling grading capacity to 10 million eggs per week. As Europe’s first B Corp Certified egg packer, the company stands out for its commitment to people, sustainability, and strong producer partnerships.
Sustainable Farming Award – sponsored by Elanco
Hugh Carter of Carter Farms has pioneered low-carbon egg production on his 1,000-acre farm, which supports 64,000 hens and supplies Morrisons’ ‘Better for our Planet’ eggs. Through bold innovations like eliminating soya from feed and enriching biodiversity across 60 hectares of habitat, Carter has made huge progress in improving sustainability.
Young Farm Vet of the Year – sponsored by Zoetis
Hui Pin (Julia) Lee, associate veterinarian at Crowshall Veterinary Services, has quickly become a dynamic leader in poultry health and welfare, helping farms achieve dramatic reductions in antibiotic use and improved performance. Her commitment to evidence-based advice, education, and industry advocacy has earned widespread recognition.
Young Processor of the Year
Nicola Carter has demonstrated exceptional leadership at Chippindale Foods, advancing from graduate to site operations manager while leading automation projects. Her vision and commitment to staff development have been instrumental in supporting the company’s growth and developing strong industry and customer relationships.
Highly commended: Boglarka Farago has rapidly advanced in the poultry industry since 2020, applying curiosity and initiative in her work with Gressingham Foods to develop a new incubation profile that improved hatchability. Her enthusiasm for the industry shines through and her commitment to learning and collaboration has made an impact on both business performance and animal welfare.
Trade Supplier of the Year
International Water Solutions (IWS) specialises in providing advanced water treatment for farms. IWS focuses on sustainable and efficient water management practices to help clients reduce water consumption, lower environmental impact, and comply with regulatory standards.
Poultry Business of the Year
Maelor Foods has demonstrated exceptional operational excellence and investment, processing one million birds weekly with plans to double capacity, while at the same time prioritising staff development and a culture of safety. Their strong partnerships with contract growers and focus on welfare issues have set the company up with a culture that positions it for continued success.
Special achievement
For his exceptional leadership in managing the UK’s response to avian influenza, Gordon Hickman has led Defra’s strategic efforts in disease control, biosecurity, and contingency planning. His work has significantly shaped national policy on outbreak response and vaccination, while ensuring strong collaboration between government, industry, and scientific partners. He has helped safeguard both animal health and the resilience of the UK’s poultry sector.
Lifetime achievement
Charles Bourns has dedicated over four decades to advancing the UK poultry industry through tireless advocacy, leadership, and support of others. As chair of the NFU Poultry Board for 14 years and a key figure in Copa-Cogeca’s Poultry & Eggs group, he has championed the interests of farmers at both national and European levels. His ongoing service on industry boards, including as chairman of the National Fallen Stock Company, reflects his commitment to practical solutions and sector-wide progress. This award recognises his lifelong contribution to poultry farming and the broader agricultural community.
