Soanes Poultry, an East Yorkshire family-owned business that has reared and prepared poultry for over 70 years, has become the latest member of Aviagen UK’s Ross 400 Club.
Membership is awarded to Ross broiler flock poultry farmers who have reached a European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) of 400, a target met by Soanes Poultry.
Stuart Thomson, Aviagen UK’s Head of Sales & Technical, travelled to the company’s headquarters in Driffield to present 400 Club awards and membership to Soanes’ Keith Edeson, who scored an EPEF of 418, and to his colleague Mark Ireland, who achieved an EPEF of 409.
“Aspiring to be part of the 400 Club is what inspires the winners to work so hard to achieve their scores,” said Mr Thomson, “and it’s great to be able to welcome these new members to the Club.
“Membership has grown from just three to over 350 members in the last nine years, and the high-scoring individuals in the 400 Club represent an exclusive top 1% of the UK poultry industry.”
Soanes General Manager, Nigel Upson, commented: “We’re delighted to become members of the Ross 400 Club, and it’s a great achievement for Keith and Mark to be able to stand alongside other distinguished growers in the 400 Club’s elite of British growers.”
Mr Upson also said that 400 Club membership was the perfect complement to the company’s recent Supreme Champion award, when one of its chicken products took top prize in the Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards, which celebrate the county’s finest food and drink.
Headline image shows Keith Edeson (left) and Mark Ireland (right) with Stuart Thomson