Lincolnshire-based egg company L J Fairburn & Son has appointed three industry heavyweights to its management team to support its continued growth and rapid investment programme.
Nigel Butcher is the family-owned firm’s new Agriculture Director, Yvonne Hynd becomes Technical Director and Davey Hynd, Rearing Manager. With over 90 years’ industry experience between them, the trio brings a wealth of knowledge to Fairburn’s which has grown to become one of the largest independent egg producers and packers in the country, was recently named Poultry Business of the Year and has been listed in the London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain for five years’ running. They will help CEO Daniel Fairburn and his fellow family directors continue to develop the dynamic business which boasts agriculture, production, packing and distribution arms, and supplies many of the UK’s leading food retailers with millions of eggs every week.
Daniel Fairburn said: “Our business has achieved rapid growth and expansion in recent years, and we needed the best possible people in the industry to help support us and further strengthen our management team. I’m delighted to welcome Nigel, Yvonne and Davey who will help us drive Fairburn’s further forward in the next phase of our development and enhance our existing knowledge base, as well as that of our customers who are so vital to our business.”
Formerly UK Managing Director at leading poultry breeding company Hy-line, Nigel Butcher is now responsible for Fairburn’s hens and speciality breeds, assisting with new product development. With over 35 years’ experience in the industry, he qualified in poultry husbandry before moving in to scientific research and then the commercial poultry sector. Before joining Hy-line he was general manager for agriculture at Noble Foods.
As Technical Director, Yvonne Hynd is now in charge of technical quality standards and compliance at Fairburn’s. Six years ago, Yvonne was part of the team that helped Fairburn’s transition from being a contract producer to the successful stand-alone producer and packer it is today. She rejoins the firm after working as a consultant and then for the Lakes Free Range Egg Company. Yvonne also had a long career background with Noble Foods.
Rearing Manager Davey Hynd takes charge of Fairburn’s new state-of-the-art rearing farm. Having started in the industry in 1977, he has worked for many of the industry’s leading names and has extensive experience of poultry production and rearing management.
In 2013, Fairburn’s took the decision to switch from being a contract producer for a large brand to setting up on its own. Since then it has invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment, land and livestock, and signed contracts with many of the UK’s major multiples, plus launched its own award-winning speciality products and has actively built its own network of farming producers. It is now one of the largest independent egg producers and packers in the country, employing over 280 local Lincolnshire staff, purchasing 80,000 tonnes of feed from farmers in the county last year.