New egg packs with a distinct county flavour have been relaunched by leading northern egg producer Chippindale Eggs.
The new pack designs introduce some of the local farmers from Lancashire, Yorkshire and Northumberland, who work in partnership with Chippindale to bring locally produced free-range eggs to regional supermarket shelves.
Research by the company has shown that consumers like to buy local wherever possible and the new packs for Co-Op and Morrisons supermarkets in Yorkshire and the North East feature producer photographs and messaging to promote the fact that eggs are from regional farms.
The Yorkshire packs also have facts about the firm’s Bee Friendly Scheme, which supports bumblebee conservation by planting bee habitat on poultry farms.
Managing director Nick Chippindale said a £5m investment in new packing facilities and offices near Harrogate in 2013 had played a crucial role in delivering more local produce to supermarket shelves, resulting in a 30% growth with production levels now up to 4 million eggs a week.
“As a result of that investment, we have been able to provide a route to market for more regional poultry farmers across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Northumberland and have supported many others to become new free range producers.
“The redesign of our local packs with clearer messaging about provenance and sustainability has been the latest steps in supporting our farmers to sell more eggs regionally.”
Mr Chippindale said that although demand for free-range eggs continued to rise, they were increasingly seen as a commodity with retailers driving efficiency through the supply chain and cutting margins.
“Our challenge is to continually look at new ideas which differentiate our product and give our farmers a market for their eggs,” he added.