Reasons why you should enter the BFREPA Awards this year!

Published on : 30 Jul 2025

Henry Gibbs was delighted to win the Producer of The Year Award Winner for large flocks

The BFREPA Awards are a valuable opportunity to celebrate excellence in the free range egg sector.

BFREPA are delighted to host the 2025 British Free Range Show at the Telford International Centre on Thursday 27th November 2025, in association with the Pullet Hatcheries & Breeders Association, in partnership with Noble Foods, and sponsored by Newquip, Elanco, Alltech and Innovad Group.

The BFREPA Free Range Awards 2025 are kindly sponsored by Morspan.

Entering highlights your innovation, sustainability, and commitment to high standards - boosting your business profile, enhancing credibility, and strengthening customer trust. Whether shortlisted or winning, the recognition motivates staff, fosters pride, and connects you with key industry peers and leaders. Read what last year’s winners have to say!

The Ranger caught up with the three winning producers from last year’s awards to find out what winning meant to them and how the awards have impacted their business.

Producer of The Year Award Winner- Large - Heart of Shropshire Eggs
Henry Gibbs was delighted to win this award as a large producer. He shares the background to his farm and what winning means to him.

Situated just outside Shrewsbury, their fourth-generation family farm has sustainability at the core of their operation, with self-sufficiency high on their agenda. Henry explains “In 2020, I diversified our family farm and established Heart of Shropshire Eggs, placing my first flock of 32,000 birds into a state-of-the-art Vencomatic Gallery Single multi-tier system.

More recently, I expanded the business further by housing an additional 15,000 birds on a tenanted farm on a traditional flat deck system. After becoming a registered packing centre in 2021, we now have two on-farm egg vending machines and supply packed eggs to businesses across the Midlands - both of which have grown exponentially year on year, as well as supplying two packers”.

Eggs are processed on-site using advanced and high-tech packing station, featuring a robotic palletiser that ensures consistent quality and efficient handling from nest to dispatch.

Henry says “For me, using key performance indicators (KPI’s) is crucial for getting the best from the flock; through a tailored vaccination programme, the right supplements and additives, and rigorous biosecurity measures to enhance performance and welfare. Collecting and using data is invaluable for making informed decisions.

After being nominated by Lloyds Animal Feeds, I was invited to complete a detailed form outlining various aspects of the business. This led to the farm being shortlisted for the next stage, and soon after, the chairman and vice chairman of BFREPA visited to learn more about our operations first-hand. The whole process was straightforward and genuinely worthwhile. It gave me the chance to showcase the work we do here.

It truly is an honour to win such a prestigious award. A huge thank you to the judges and to everyone who has supported me along the way. I believe the free-range sector is built on a fantastic community and network of people, whether they’re reps or fellow producers, who are always willing to help each other.

It’s an industry we should all be proud of! To anyone considering entering: I would definitely encourage you to go for it!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS NOW!