NEWS
Million pound investment at Bird Bros as robots lend a hand
UK egg producer Bird Bros has hatched a plan to make its processes more efficient and sustainable – by investing £1million in robot automation equipment.
The new hi-tech equipment will streamline processes for washing, packing and stacking pallets at its Bedfordshire headquarters.
A Unifortes pallet washer has just been installed for the quick and efficient washing and disinfecting of pallets and dividers used to transport eggs. Optimised spray patterns, customisable water heating solutions and recycling of wash water mean this new equipment will improve energy efficiency and reduce waste water.
The next exciting development comes in January when a new case packer robot will be brought in to streamline the process of packing eggs into outer cases. The MOBA MR12 twin case packer is designed specifically to meet the demands of the egg industry and will complement Bird Bros’ existing robotic packers.
This will be closely followed by the installation of an Endoline Robotics palletiser in February which will elevate productivity and precision and improve efficiency.
Matt Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “Our family business began with one hen house on farmland in Swineshead – fast forward 50 years and here we are installing cutting-edge robotics as we supply up to five million eggs a week across the UK.
“This million pound tech investment will be a game changer when it comes to improving efficiency. As well as reducing wastewater, the pallet washer means we’ll no longer be jet-washing by hand, and the robots will help to create a safer working environment by reducing heavy lifting and repetitive work while allowing us to upskill our people in other areas.”
Matt added that the new equipment will be largely powered through solar units totalling over 800kw which generate clean energy and save electricity.
The investment announcement comes hot on the heels of the launch of the company’s multi-million-pound Vision 2028 strategy, which will see Bird Bros phase down colony cage egg production at its Sunny Farm headquarters in Bedfordshire over the next four years, ending it completely by the end of 2028.
For more information about Bird Bros’ investment in new technologies, click here.
Bird Bros launches barn egg brand with Roost Eggs
Bird Bros is preparing to launch its first barn egg brand – Roost Eggs – with the first stock
available to pre-order now and set to roll off the production lines later this year.
The move is the first step towards the company’s multi-million-pound Vision 2028 strategy,
which will see Bird Bros phase down colony cage egg production at its Sunny Farm
headquarters in Bedfordshire over the next five years, ending it completely by the end of
2028.
Roost Eggs will initially be available in retail egg packs of six and 12, supported by five and
15 dozen catering packs for the foodservice industry. The range’s pricing will vary by pack
size but will sit between a typical colony and free-range product.
Barn eggs are laid by hens that are housed in large, climate-controlled sheds. The hens can
roam freely within the shed, socialising and perching. The model is common across Europe,
especially in locations where outdoor conditions and temperatures may be detrimental to
hen comfort and welfare.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “As we announced earlier this year in
our Vision 2028 strategy, we’re committed to ending our colony cage production and focus
on a higher welfare environment for our hens. We’re aware that many consumers are
looking for a value egg that provides better hen welfare, and we believe that a barn egg is
the ideal solution for the future.
“Barn egg hens are given the same amount of space free range hens enjoy, with the added
benefit of having no threat from outdoor predators. For retailers and catering services, they
can provide the ideal value egg while meeting customer expectations of higher welfare, and
we anticipate a high demand for them.
“The chicks have been at our Sunny Farm site in Bedfordshire since mid- August and will be
moving to their new laying home from December. We’re already in discussions with a
number of partners about our Roost Egg products and we’re proud and excited to be
launching a new proposition which delivers a competitive price point for consumers without
compromising on animal welfare.”
For more information about Bird Bros’ commitment to barn eggs, click here.
Brits’ appetite for gold prompts product relaunch
Bird Bros has relaunched its Gloriously Golden free-range eggs with bright new packaging, as Brits show a real appetite for gold.
The egg producer says continuing demand for golden yolks prompted the packaging revamp.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, says: “Going for gold is first choice for many of our customers who love those deliciously rich and vibrant yolks.
“That demand looks set to continue so we have revisited the design for the range, changing the packaging to a beautiful golden-yellow and incorporating other subtle design changes. The slicker, smarter, colourful new look better reflects the high-quality product within.
“The eggs are produced in sunny East Anglia where our hens roam freely among specially grown tree plantations, and are fed with an enriched feed, ensuring those lovely golden yolks.”
Bird Bros’ Gloriously Golden free-range eggs are available in retail packs of six and 10, as well as in 5 and 15 dozen catering boxes. The product is listed in both Nisa and Spar as well as more than 250 food service outlets and independent shops across the UK.
The packaging relaunch is the second time this year Bird Bros has put the spotlight on gold – the brand also extended its range this summer with the launch of a new premium egg product – the White Gold range.
Characterised by its white shell and golden yolk, the range which launched in June is already proving to be a hit with consumers.
Bird Bros says the introduction of white eggs produced from white hens (which can be easier to manage and are capable of producing eggs over a longer laying cycle than brown hens) will ultimately help to improve efficiency and support the company’s sustainability goals.
For more information on Gloriously Golden, visit here, and to find out more information on Bird Bros’ environmental impact, click here.
Bird Bros implements over £1million worth of sustainability measures
Bird Bros has implemented over £1million worth of sustainability measures across its production and packing sites.
Through solar panel installation, and internal and external PIR motion detecting LED lighting, the facility has reduced its energy consumption by 66% this year alone.
The news follows the company’s ongoing shift towards using lower emissions vehicles, as well as cutting edge software planning programmes to ensure delivery routes reduce travel times and therefore carbon emissions.
Bird Bros’s commitment to sustainability extends to packaging, which wherever possible is made of wood pulp or REPT recycled plastic, and secured with recyclable paper tape.
The company’s free-range laying sites are also home to beehives and wildflower meadows to support biodiversity.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “As a well-established UK producer and packer of eggs, and one that has been trading for over 55 years, we wouldn’t be where we are today without evolving to the needs of our customers and the broader world that we’re part of.
“The farming industry has made huge strides on sustainability during the past decade, and we’re proud to be a part of an industry acting on several fronts, from reducing our energy consumption, to wildlife preservation and biodiversity improvements.
“These are just some of the changes we’ve recently actioned, but we nurture an environment here at Bird Bros, where our people are encouraged to offer up new ideas where future improvements can be made, so our work here continues.”
For more information on Bird Bros’s environmental impact, visit: https://birdbroseggs.co.uk/sustainability/
Bird Bros raises funds for breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel
A Bird Bros family member has raised over £4,500 for breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel.
Karina Bird trekked an egg-straordinary 100km over five days across the Brecon Beacons with a group of around 120 people and celebrity captains – including blogger, podcaster and author Giovanna Fletcher.
CoppaTrek is run by registered charity CoppaFeel!, which exists to educate, encourage and empower young people to check their chests, as early detection of breast cancer saves lives.
Karina said: “This is a really important cause for me, cancer prevention is so important, and having the knowledge of what to do, and encouraging young people to familiarise themselves with what feels normal and how to spot something unusual is crucial.”
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “We’re all very proud of Karina for money she’s raised, and completing this incredible physical challenge. One in two people develop some form of cancer during their lifetime so everyone is affected in one way or another. Supporting the causes that are important to our family and team is a key aspect of our culture.
“We hope that through our support for CoppaFeel and Karina’s amazing effort, we can help open conversations for people who otherwise may not have known how to check their chests for cancer prevention.”
Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/page/karina-bird-1705759827732
For more information on CoppaTrek, visit: https://coppatrek-brecon-beacons.coppafeel.org/
Golden opportunity as Bird Bros launches new white egg offering
Bird Bros has expanded its product range with the launch of a new golden yolk white egg range, White Gold.
Produced on specially selected family farms, the new range from the British Lion accredited egg supplier will be a free range, premium egg product characterised by its white shell and deep golden yolk.
The range will be available from 3rd June in boxes of six, at an MRSP of £2.65 for mixed weight and £2.80 for large.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “Back in the 70s and 80s, white hens and their eggs were a common sight in the UK, however over time consumers switched to brown eggs, which then became the default choice for UK producers.
“White eggs are produced from white hens and from a bird management perspective, due to their docile nature, are easier to manage, more feed efficient, and capable of producing eggs over a longer laying cycle than brown hens. This improved efficiency will help to support our long-term sustainability goals and ensure our business continues to look at innovation as part of our broader supply strategy.
“The hens roam freely among the specially grown tree plantations and are fed with our enriched bespoke feed, ensuring a deliciously tasty, rich golden yolk which we are especially proud to bring to the market.”
There has been increasing uptake for white eggs among retailers in recent years, and earlier this month, Co-op became the latest retailer to announce its white egg plans in support of its one hundred per cent free range offer.
With white eggs playing an increasingly important role in producer and retailer supply strategies, Bird Bros has plans to expand the range further in future.
You can learn more about the new White Gold range here.
Bird Bros announces transition to barn eggs with multi-million pound cage-free strategy
Bird Bros has announced it will phase out colony cage egg production by 2028 as part of a new multi-million-pound strategy.
The British Lion accredited egg producer will phase out colony cage egg production at its Sunny Farm headquarters in Bedfordshire over the next five years in line with its Vision 2028 plan.
The move marks a major strategic shift for the family-owned business, which has been producing eggs at its Sunny Farm headquarters in Bedfordshire since 1969. Currently, the business supplies over four million eggs a week to retailers, wholesalers, and food service businesses across the UK.
Bird Bros is implementing the cage-free programme to strengthen its range of higher welfare products for its customers. The move represents a significant investment as the company moves to barn egg production, with the first Bird Bros barn eggs set to hit the market towards the end of 2024.
Bird Bros will continue to supply substantial free range egg production from both its company owned and contracted producer arrangements.
Stuart Bird, Production Director at Bird Bros, said: “There is an increasing number of barn systems operating successfully across the UK and we can see the benefits this model provides. The UK egg market is evolving rapidly, and we know that as we look to the future, barn eggs will have a significant role to play. We want to be among those leading the charge in moving away from colony cage egg production.”
Barn eggs are laid by hens that are housed in large & open, climate-controlled sheds without cages. The hens can roam freely within the shed, socialising, and perching, without the threat of outdoor predators or exposure to the elements.
The model is common across Europe, especially in locations where outdoor conditions and temperatures may be detrimental to hen welfare. Stocking densities are improved significantly compared with enriched-colony production methods and mirror the levels that free-range birds experience when enclosed at night.
Matthew Bird, Commercial Director at Bird Bros, said: “Our Vision 2028 strategy plots a bold new direction for the business which we are all really enthused by. Having been a significant player in the egg production industry for more than 55 years, we understand how important it is to remain agile and forward thinking to thrive as a successful business.
“While many of the major grocers will be ending sales of enriched colony eggs by the end of 2025, our decision to invest significantly in barn egg production has been driven by our desire to improve hen welfare and meet the evolving requirements of our broad customer base.
“There will be a market for value-focussed eggs with strong animal welfare credentials, as well as the free-range produced eggs we provide. With our customer base encompassing many different channels, we see a huge opportunity for barn eggs, and it is the key driver behind our decision to move decisively into barn egg production.”
You can learn more about Bird Bros’ Vision 2028 strategy here.
Bird Bros achieves AA+ grade in Sunny Farm BRC audit
Bird Bros has achieved AA+ grade in an unannounced British Retail Consortium (BRC) audit of its packing centre at its Sunny Farm site.
AA+ is the highest possible score under the BRC audit scheme, which serves as the official assessment of a food manufacturer’s adherence to its Global Standard for Food Safety.
Under their audit scheme, an accredited auditor visits a site to review operations and assign a grade between D to AA based on food safety & hygiene, staff training, traceability, and site specification. The + symbol is assigned to the allocated grade if this is undertaken as an unannounced audit, as opposed to a pre-planned inspection.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “It’s excellent to see our team has done us proud and achieved the highest grading possible in the recent BRC audit of our packing centre at Sunny Farm.
“In all aspects of our business we want to hold ourselves to high standards and maintain a culture of excellence across our site operations, so this is a really pleasing result.”
You can find out more about operations at Bird Bros’s packing centre and the ways in which the business ensures its production and packaging processes are sustainable here.
Bird Bros announces £250,000 investment
Bird Bros has completed a quarter of a million-pound investment programme.
This funding was committed to extensive improvements across infrastructure, recruitment and staff upskilling, and puts the business on a strong footing as it set its sights on ambitious growth plans. This will form part of a wider programme of investment for 2024 and beyond.
The company has also announced a new senior team appointment as Robin Hele joins the business.
As a previous director of Bird Bros, Robin returns to the company bringing four decades of experience across egg production and agriculture.
Matthew Bird, commercial director at Bird Bros, said: “This is an exciting time for Bird Bros as we mark the completion of an intensive package of measures centred around farming operations, animal welfare, and our dedicated staff.
‘We are thrilled to welcome Robin Hele back – he has a wealth of expertise and will oversee all farming operations and a key time of change for the business.
‘We have some major developments, and more investment plans, in the pipeline and Robin will be key in driving these forward throughout 2024 and beyond.”
Robin said: “It’s exciting to be rejoining the business at such a crucial time and I’m thrilled to be leading the charge across farm operations.”
You can find out more about the business and the steps it takes to ensure the welfare of its hens and the quality of its produce here: https://birdbroseggs.co.uk/our-hens-welfare/
Bird Bros donate 2,000 packs of eggs this Christmas.
At this time of year, it is important that we play our part, and Bird Bros is delighted to provide 2,000 individual boxes of eggs to support the superb effort made by the Bedford Food Bank.
People in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy, to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Bedford Foodbank’s volunteers work with referral partners to provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in our community.
“The Bedford food bank is very local to where our business has been operational for over 50 years. We feel privileged & proud to be able to donate this Christmas to the residents of Bedford. Eggs are packed full of vitamins and minerals and are a convenient fast food for all the family.”
Matthew Bird, Commercial Director, Bird Bros
