December 27, 2007

UK egg packers team up to pitch for larger market contracts

Two of UK's leading egg suppliers merged to bid for larger supermarket contracts.

J Rainford & Sons, a family business that employs 30 people at its Hatchwood site at Brindle, Chorley, merged with WA McHardy & Son of Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

The resulting company will trade under the Rainfords name with production at the Hatchwood site.

Rainfords has a turnover of EUR4.5m (US$6.5 million) and McHardy is reported to be worth EUR1.5m (US$2.2 million). When the plant reaches full capacity, production is estimated to rise by EUR1.75m (US$2.5 million). A distribution centre is also planned to operate from Cumbria.

Bill Holmes, managing director of Rainfords, said that the partnership would position them to pitch for bigger supermarket contracts in UK.

Lion Quality eggs will continue to be supplied by Rainfords at supermarkets across the North West.