Picture: John Campbell founder of Glenrath Farms
In 1961 John Campbell left home in Argyllshire and bought a hill farm—Glenrath—near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. All the landlord's capital was borrowed.
He now presides over a family business supplying 1.3 million eggs a day, seven days a week, to the major multiple retailers with a turnover of £32 million per annum. Delegates at this year's BFREPA conference will be able to hear for themselves the story of Glenrath Farms when John Campbell OBE takes to the stage as a guest speaker.
It's a story that began when entrepreneur John Campbell, having opted to invest in egg production, took the decision that the company would never rely on anyone else to market its produce.
"I walked the streets of Edinburgh and sold eggs to butchers, grocers, small shops and hotels," he told the Ranger. "My slogan was 'I'm a farmer selling my own produce' and business boomed. Eventually we received a larger order from a cash & carry, a dairy company and the Cooperative Society."
An order from Tesco nearly 25 years ago to supply two stores was a development that Mr Campbell says completely changed the complexity of the business.
"Shortly afterwards we were supplying the other big supermarkets, Asda, Safeway and Sainsbury's. Eventually, Glenrath was awarded the contract to supply all Tesco's stores in Scotland, and in turn, Asda did the same."
The one thing delegates attending the conference will not hear is John Campbell knocking the retailers.
"We think supermarkets are great for our industry. There is no one else to sell your product and we find they are fair at all times," says the man who considers his 200 full-time employees as "friends rather than the workforce" and is quick to acknowledge the role his wife Cathy and other family members have played in Glenrath's success.
And it is not just the poultry industry where John Campbell has made his mark. The family farm extensively in the Borders. A renowned breeder of Scottish blackface sheep, he sold a ram for £49,000 in 2004 and one at £30,000 last year at auction in Lanark Market.
Glenrath Farms is reputed to be the largest single producer of free range eggs in the UK and, as the company responds to increasing demand for free range, it's a position that it hopes will be strengthened by the establishment of the world's largest free range farm. As reported previously in the Ranger, Glenrath plans to house 320,000 birds in ten multi-tier houses and conference-goers will be eager to hear Mr Campbell's views on the project.
As reported in last month's Ranger, John Campbell will share the stage with Dr Donald McNamara, executive director of the USA's Egg Nutrition Centre, along with chairman of the International Egg Commission Willi Kalhammer.
Featuring once again at this year's conference will be the popular veterinary workshop hosted by the Ranger vets from Crowshall Veterinary Services, while an extensive range of trade stands will showcase the very best in equipment, supplies and services aimed at the free range sector.
Andrew Hignett, managing director of conference organisers Hy-Line UK, commented: "With such an impressive line-up of speakers and the improved conference facilities offered by Stareton Hall, this year's conference promises to be the best ever and we are expecting a record attendance.
"The BFREPA conference has established itself as one of the leading events in the poultry calendar and much of its success is down to the fact that it always attracts a high proportion of producers. Hy-Line is delighted to be involved with the organisation and sponsorship of the 2006 event."
BFREPA holds its annual general meeting on the morning of the conference which this year will be attended by Michael Kent, chief executive of Noble Foods. Mr Kent will be on hand to answer producers' questions about the recent merger of Deans Foods and Stonegate.
*The free range conference will be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on Thursday 23 November. Pre-registration is necessary and anyone still requiring details should contact Hy-Line UK on 01527 850221 or email firstpost@hyline.co.uk
More free range news at www.theranger.co.uk
