Iain Chapman succeeds his father RobertS
4 January 2024
4 minute learn
Top-of-the-line-known faces in Scottish and UK egg manufacturing has introduced he’s handing over the reins to his son, based on a current firm press launch.
Robert Chapman is not going to be flying the Farmlay nest fully; staying on as government chair whereas his son Iain, 40, takes the highest perch as managing director.
The 67-year-old says now’s the right time – having not too long ago come by a really busy couple of years which has included securing profitable long-term contracts with supermarkets Aldi and Lidl. Farmlay additionally provides Spar and all Morrisons’ supermarkets in Scotland.
“It’s simply pure succession,” says Robert, who left faculty at 15 with the dream of proudly owning 100,000 hens and 1,000 acres of farmland. He steps down as MD with the enterprise proudly owning 450,000 hens – and an additional 550,000 owned by contract producers – and a pair of,500 acres of land – an almost 20-fold enhance from the 130 acres he began out with.
“My father let me get on with making my mark on the farm and it’s solely proper that I do the identical for Iain. I really like the whole lot about Farmlay; particularly all of the individuals who have been on this wonderful journey with us. However I owe it to my spouse Ethel – who has labored alongside me rising the enterprise and been essentially the most marvellous help – to lastly spend some extra time together with her and the grandchildren.”
It isn’t solely extra household time Robert, who places his boundless power and enthusiasm all the way down to at all times beginning the day with two softly boiled eggs for breakfast, has booked into his diary. In January, he has been invited to be a speaker on the panel reflecting on the keynote Oxford Farming Convention 2024 Report, which this yr centres on the meals provide chain.
“Eggs are nature’s comfort meals,” smiles Robert. “Low cost, great tasting and stuffed with nutritional vitamins.”
Iain, who has labored for Aberdeenshire-based Farmlay ever since he was sufficiently old to assist acquire the eggs – aside from research at SRUC and travels in Australia – has performed a key position within the progress of the enterprise.
One space he’s eager to develop but additional is the five hundred,000 extra hens saved by different farmers on a contract foundation below the Farmlay wing. Whereas it was no joke on the time, he believes the 2022 pictures of grocery store cabinets empty of eggs – the results of a mix of things together with excessive power and feed costs together with the chance of avian flu – has inadvertently resulted in a “golden age” for egg producers.
“No one desires to see that occur once more – least of all of the supermarkets – and the five-year rolling contracts we now have in place are offering an thrilling alternative to different farmers,” explains Iain.
“There’s a good return available from hens; excellent for a member of the household wanting to come back dwelling to the farm or for these in search of diversification. These new long-term contracts imply our market is extra worthwhile than ever, with full prices monitoring for feed, power and labour leaving margin.
“We work with farmers each step of the way in which, from planning permission for sheds, by to constructing work, lighting, supplying the birds, feeding, audits and help with all of the paperwork. As farmers ourselves we perceive what we have to provide assist and help with.”
Iain’s spouse, Debbie, can be becoming a member of the board and dealing alongside him within the Farmlay workplace.
“Like dad who has had mum by his facet, I’m fortunate that Debbie works throughout the enterprise,” says Iain, who’s father to six-year-old Megan, three-year-old Molly and seven-month-old Emma.
“She’s had her arms full not too long ago with the ladies, however the time’s proper for us now and we’re enthusiastic about following in mum and pa’s footsteps.”
Along with 1,700 acres of cereals made up of winter and spring barley, winter oilseed rape and winter wheat, the Chapman household run 230 industrial suckler cows at their 2,500-acre Cockmuir Farm, close to Strichen, Aberdeenshire. They attempt to develop as a lot wheat as potential within the rotation to feed the birds, with the remaining acreage grass and woodland.
Working intently with surrounding farmers in relation to joint enterprise offers similar to shopping for in cereals for the 400-tons-a-week wanted for the feed milling operation or offering poultry manure as fertiliser is on the very coronary heart of the Farmlay enterprise. The household has invested closely in each surroundings and welfare – planting greater than 10,000 bushes to reinforce the hens’ habitat – in addition to photo voltaic, biomass and wind-powered renewable power. £3.5million was not too long ago invested within the packing centre which included one other robotic including to the prevailing six used within the grading facility and one other deliberate for 2024 to extend effectivity.
