Q & A Session
Virtual Open House – Your questions answered
Last month we virtually opened our doors here at Potters Poultry, bringing together key individuals from across the industry and inviting our guests to see behind the scenes of our business.
The finale to our event saw us complete a Q&A session with all our panelists where we answered questions put forward to us by viewers. For those who missed it, we’ve put together a list of some of the key questions answered on the day by Olivia, Justin, Dan and John.
How similar are the market opportunities for the UK in comparison to the US?
Dan Wood: The USA market is currently 25% cage free, but the industry is aiming to convert to 65% cage free within a short time period. This is a transition the UK market has already made, with the cage ban in place since 2012.
For this reason, the market share for free range is also currently bigger in the UK than the USA, but with the experience Potters has from the UK, we’re in a great place to make sure this expertise is transferred across to our business in the States.
Another difference between the markets is that the barn egg market is alive and well within the USA. This segment, which fills the market gap below free-range eggs, has supported much of the move away from caged hens.
John, is Tesco planning on ensuring barn eggs are Freedom Foods approved?
John Kirkpatrick: It’s not a requirement of our production at the moment, however we have worked with Compassion in World Farming, as well as egg packers, both current and external to develop a standard through the British Egg Industry Council. We produce our barn eggs to this standard – however, we have no plans to take our barn production to RSPCA Assured.
What are the similarities between USA and UK egg farmers?
Dan Wood: Unlike the UK, which has the same regulations nationwide, the USA’s regulations vary from state to state within the USA. Therefore, it’s difficult to set one level for comparison.
However, in terms of welfare, Organic eggs are currently the highest standard in the UK and are the equivalent of pasture raised organic egg in the USA. At Potters Poultry we are cage free in both the UK and USA.
What is the availability of white eggs in the UK?
Olivia Potter: There is good availability of white eggs in the UK. Potters Poultry is currently rearing a number of flocks, with availability and demand for this increasing. Early signs are showing the UK market will buy into white eggs, with Tesco’s John Kirkpatrick saying “Customer response to white eggs in Tesco’s has been good, with the national flock looking to increase to 10% towards the end of the year. White egg is here to stay.”
What are the benefits of your Premium rearing aviary?
Olivia Potter: The rearing aviary provides the pullets with early training, giving them the best start to life with easy access to feed and water. The pullets are trained to sleep on the system, so they are used to this when moved to the laying house. The rearing aviary also ensures we don’t get any birds going backwards, resulting in no welfare issues, stress reduction for both pullets and farmers, and mortality rate is reduced to up to 50% in some flocks.
As well as this, we have a Potters Poultry customer in Wales who is currently doing a trial with the standard multi-tier vs the rearing aviary, with results showing so far that at 27 weeks of eggs, there is a six egg difference already.
If you’d like to learn more about Potters Poultry and hear more of the questions answered on the day you can re-watch the virtual event here: https://youtu.be/bCHVplMX38E