Havensfield Eggs
When egg sales soared during the first coronavirus lockdown, it coincided with a challenging time in Havensfield Eggs’ production cycle and the threat of avian influenza to boot, but the company went the extra mile to keep shoppers satisfied.
First generation farmers Alaistaire and Fiona Brice established Havensfield Eggs in 2003 with 300 chickens and an outdoor pig unit. This year, they chose to focus entirely on egg production with over 20 staff members grading, packing and distributing eggs at their premises in Hoxne, Suffolk.
The company prides itself on the welfare of its 150,000 free range chickens kept in small flocks on family farms across Norfolk and Suffolk – all eggs are produced to a specific Havensfield standard to ensure consistency – and the attention to detail throughout the laying and packing process.
During the first lockdown, egg sales rose significantly. “It came at a point in our production cycle where we had our fewest numbers of flocks in lay,” reflect Alaistaire and Fiona. “We were so short of eggs we were collecting from farms daily to ensure customers had their orders. We were grading around the clock with all staff – graders, office, drivers, our children – putting in extra hours to help. Our staff have been incredible.”
The company streamlined its packaging lines to speed up production and maintain supply while diverting eggs from Covid-affected sectors like food service to East of England Co-op stores. Before the pandemic, more than half of Havensfield’s eggs were sold on trays. However, due to the sudden customer base shift and need for pre-packs, there was a shortage affecting packers across the UK.
“We managed to obtain some plastic packaging which we had to use for a short while. Not only was it difficult and labour-intensive to use, we were also disappointed to have to use plastic because of environmental issues. Obviously, this was not an ideal solution, but customers were really supportive when they realised our dilemma,” the couple explain.
It is not the first time that Havensfield Eggs has been shortlisted for a Sourced Locally award. “It’s always an honour to be selected. This time feels even more special as the nominees were shortlisted by the East of England Co-op themselves. We know we worked hard during the pandemic, but so did so many other people. It was a time when everyone pulled together to do the best job they could under very difficult circumstances.
“To win, especially having been so close a couple of times, would be the icing on the cake. It would be a real morale boost for the whole team, showing them that – although it feels small within the scale of the devastation caused by coronavirus – we did make a difference.”