Brand director Sarah-Louise Fairburn told FoodManufacture.co.uk the deal with Asda had contributed significantly to that growth.
“We had a couple of years of hard slog going from producing eggs for one large packer to going alone,” she said. “We started supplying Asda last June with seven different local lines. We’re supplying just over 20 stores and growing as well.”
Lincolnshire Co-op
Last month, the company, which is based in Alford, Lincolnshire, announced an agreement to supply all 77 Lincolnshire Co-op stores.
LJ Fairburn was formed in 1951 by Leslie Fairburn with only £150 and 150 chickens, but only became a completely independent packer and producer two years ago, said Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Leslie’s granddaughter-in-law. Grandchildren Daniel, Sarah and Caroline also help run the business.
“That’s what retailers want: people who are in control of their whole supply chain,” Sarah-Louise Fairburn added. “Over the past year our turnover has grown by 42%.”
‘Choice’
Commenting on the latest supply deal, Lincolnshire Co-op’s supply chain manager Nicola Berry said: "We’re delighted to have added large Lincolnshire Free Range Eggs to our growing Love Local range as it gives our shoppers another choice when it comes to buying produce from the county.
“Supporting local family firms like LJ Fairburn and Son is also really important to us and because the chickens live on farms in Lincolnshire, it means our customers can really identify with where the eggs are coming from.”
Fairburn added: “We take great pride in our family business and our eggs, just like our grandfather did all those years ago. We are delighted that he is alive today to see us rekindle the relationship with the Co-op.
‘Future additions to our range’
“Our Fairburn’s Lincolnshire Free Range Egg brand is proving really popular and we are so pleased to be supplying all Lincolnshire Co-op stores in the county. The Co-op is an amazing retailer to work with and we look forward to adding future additions to our range to support such a great sponsor of local produce.”
LJ Fairburn now produces more than eight million organic, free range, barn and colony eggs a week, rears more than 1.8M birds and mills more than 78,000t of feed every year.
It produces Chucky Eggs and Lincolnshire Free Range Eggs brands, using equipment provided by Dutch firm Moba.