Annual sales at Annyalla Chicks increased during 2019 to £39.06 million in the year to 31 December, up from £35.92 million in 2018.
In its full accounts, newly published at Companies House, the firm reported gross profits were down year on year to £4.86 million, compared to £5,00 million in 2018. Profits after tax were £91,758 for 2019, compared to £483,961.
The company’s report states the firm continues to invest and position itself as a major provider of poultry products “to meet both continued growth demand and increased customer expectation on welfare and quality”.
Following the completion of the company’s early feeding expansion at its new hatchery in Butterwick, Lincolnshire, in January 2019, the hatchery division spent 2019 focussed at all three of its sites on cost reduction, product quality and efficiencies. According to the report, this was in order to put the company in the best possible position for 2020 and the uncertainties of Brexit. “The threat at uncertainty of Brexit… is still a major consideration going forward,” the report states.
During 2019, the company reorganised its broiler growing operation, reducing the number of growing farms it operates from 17 to eight. This was completed in August 2020, the report states. “Whilst significantly improving the unit production cost per bird this has not compromised total output.”
The company said the first six months of 2020 had been difficult due to the outbreak of COVID-19. “Following a repositioning of market demand this has seen a return to almost pre-COVID-19 sales levels as of July.” The focus of the company for the remainder of 2020 is now cash conservation to protect against unknown implications of the pandemic in the future.