Noble Foods, the UK’s leading egg producer, is this month recognising a major career milestone for one of its long-standing colleagues, Simon Day, who has recently reared his 70th flock of pullets at Hilltop Farm.
Day, farm manager at Noble Foods’ largest rearing farm, joined the business in 1992 – originally working for Daylay, which was later acquired by Noble Foods. Since then, he has become a trusted and highly respected member of the agriculture team, known for his hands-on leadership, technical expertise and deep care for bird welfare. But Simon’s career with poultry began long before joining Hilltop.
“I grew up on poultry farms from the age of nine,” Day says. “My father was a farm manager and my mother worked alongside him. These were broiler breeder sites, so I was collecting eggs and looking after livestock from a very young age.”
By 14, Day was already working weekends with local authority consent, developing the strong work ethic that’s defined his career ever since. After leaving school, he worked full time in the poultry industry for six years until the farm closed, at which point a chance conversation led him to Hilltop Farm.
“I was contacted by Geoff Stopforth, who offered me a job as assistant manager here. I started in 1992, initially rearing broiler birds, before we transitioned over to pullet rearing in 1997.”
Since then, Simon has witnessed significant change at Hilltop, with the farm evolving to meet the needs of a dynamic egg sector. From its early days of floor rearing, Hilltop has introduced multi-tier systems, and today operates the Vencomatic Unistart aviary system. The site can now rear up to 200,000 pullets at a time, supplying birds for free-range, organic free-range and barn systems.
Hilltop Farm forms part of Noble Foods’ extensive rearing portfolio, which is responsible for raising approximately 4.5 million pullets every year. These flocks supply both Noble Foods’ own producers and other laying farms across the UK – underlining the essential role that pullet rearing plays in sustaining British egg production.
With rearing capacity increasingly tight across the industry, Simon’s expertise has never been more valued by Noble Foods and its producers. “Producers trust us to deliver consistent flocks, and we never take that responsibility lightly,” Day says. “It’s about setting the birds up for a strong, healthy life and giving producers the best possible start.”
Alongside his day-to-day work on farm, Day also plays a key role in the wider business – regularly hosting induction sessions for new Noble Foods colleagues, providing valuable first-hand insight into the company’s rearing operations.
“Simon is a brilliant ambassador for our rearing business,” said Jean-Paul Michalski, head of company farms at Noble Foods. “His knowledge, care and attention to detail have helped rear millions of pullets over his career, always with the same focus on welfare and consistency. We’re incredibly proud to have him as part of the team.”
Day also credits the support of his family throughout his career: “The job is not without its challenges, and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the love and support of my wife Anne, for which I am truly grateful.”
Following the retirement of his former manager Geoff Stopforth in 2014 (after 44 years of service), Day stepped into the role of farm manager, supported by assistant manager Robert Jones, who himself recently retired at the end of 2024.
With his 70th flock now successfully handed over, Day shows no signs of slowing down. “Every flock is different, and you never stop learning,” he reflects. “The aim is always the same. Strong, healthy birds that set our producers up for success.”
Noble Foods extends its thanks to Simon for his remarkable service and commitment, and celebrates the vital role he continues to play in supporting both producers and the wider agricultural community.