A move to free-range and organic egg production helped Fairburn’s Eggs improve profitability despite market disruption, according to the company’s latest accounts.
In its financial reports for the year to 30 September 2025, the Lincolnshire-based producer said a “strategic move” from cage to free-range and organic eggs lifted its gross profit margin from 10.6% to 11.1%.
This was despite bird flu and tightening egg supply denting revenue by £3.1m (2.6%), dropping from £119.4m last year to £116.4m. Operating profit was also slightly impacted, down from £4.1m to £3.9m.
In 2025, the business expanded its free-range business with investment in land, new laying facilities and enhanced rearing facilities.
“With particular emphasis on a new state-of-the-art packing centre, new free-range laying and rearing facilities, feed mill improvements and carbon offsetting projects,” the business said, “we are pleased that many of our producer partners are also increasing their production capacity.”
The producer said it had plans to further expand production and “build our business on long-term sustainable grounds”.
Currently, 86.7% of its hens were either free-range (81.4%) or organic (5.3%), with barn and caged accounting for 2.4% and 10.9% respectively.
Fairburn’s environmental performance also improved in the period with emissions falling from 4,683.7 tonnes of CO2 to 3,941.7 tonnes of CO2.
This was driven by a reduction in grid electricity usage as the business moved to a supplier providing zero-carbon energy.
“We continue to expand our renewable energy capabilities, with our mill operations being supported by solar energy from November 2025,” it added. “Our commitment for all future poultry sheds built to have solar panels installed remains.”
The business acknowledged it was operating in “challenging economic times” and said customer price expectations had to be balanced against inflationary pressures, “particularly in relation to feed prices”.
It also highlighted the vulnerability to disease outbreaks including bird flu, which it said it was addressing them through a series of measures. They include communicating with customers, housing livestock on multiple sites to mitigate disease risk, and regular vet and medical audits.
Fairburn’s further asserted that it would be able to mitigate rising feed prices by operating its own facilities, producing its own feed, and rearing its own birds.
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