On the 28th and 29th September, UK Free Range Producers came together for the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) conference, exhibition, and AGM at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham.
The annual conference is the flagship event of the free-range egg industry, bringing together producers and trade across the UK and beyond. The event returned for its first in-person exhibition since 2019, with over 450 day delegate tickets sold.
ForFarmers was the proud partner of the BFREPA exhibition and conference, hosting 46 trade stands packed full of exciting new innovations from the free-range poultry sector. Trade stands were quickly snapped up by exhibitors across the industry to attend the event.
The theme of this year’s conference: "Building resilience in a commodity world" tackled a range of issues facing free-range egg producers and the current challenges in the market. With talks from industry-leading speakers on resilient mental health, buying groups, and biosecurity.
As part of the conference Poultry Director, David Hilldrith welcomed the delegates with his opening speech addressing the challenges the free-range poultry industry is facing, sharing the ForFarmers market drive, commitment to the industry, and leading VitaFocus regimes.
David Hilldrith comments “ForFarmers were hugely proud to host this prestigious event with BFREPA, this year’s theme of resilience highlighted the importance of how as an industry we will sustain and protect what has made free range the success story it is. A thank you to all who attended this year, and our exhibitors who show their unwavering support for the event, every year. An additional thank you to the ForFarmers and BFREPA teams for making this year’s event possible.”
Alongside the exhibition and conference, the BFREPA gala dinner and awards were hosted on Wednesday 28th September. A glittering awards evening hosted by Shaun Williamson, a renowned actor and all round entertainer, best known for his role as Barry Evans in Eastenders. 8 awards were presented at the event, honouring achievements across the UK egg industry.
James Baxter, chairman of BFREPA, said: “It is a pleasure to be holding the Free Range Awards again for the first time since 2019. It is fantastic to finally honour and recognise the individuals and businesses that have made a tangible difference to the sector with their passion and dedication to innovation.
Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners:
The Marketing Initiative of the Year - Stonegate Farmers
Producer of the Year award (0 to 32,000 birds) - Gareth Williams of EW ME & GR Williams
Producer of the Year award (32,000 to 64,000 birds) - Alex & Chris Watts from A&C Poultry
Producer of the Year (over 64,000 birds) - Ivory Arden of the Chirpy Egg Company
Employee of the Year - Penny Humphrey of Joice & Hill
Lifetime Achievement Award - Tim Harvey of AD Poultry Processors
Special Media Award - Keith Wild, the editor of BFREPA’s membership magazine The Ranger
Special award - BFREPA’s long-standing administrator Alison Bone
Contact our dedicated team of poultry specialists for advice and how we can help your business.
