Eye firm’s ‘egg-cellent’ idea to reduce food wastage

An Eye-based farm foods company looks to have cracked the problem of eggs going to waste thanks to a grant award of £20,000.

Kings Farm Foods, of Cranley Green, will use the funding to develop a range a range of egg-based convenience products, such as drinks and mixes, using eggs that farmers cannot sell to the supermarkets.

We hope to launch a range of products that can bring the benefits of egg to consumers in exciting and new ways

Poultry farmers have traditionally not been able to sell ‘2nd grade’ eggs due to minute changes in size, appearance and weight, despite their quality being unaffected.

While the project aims to support local farmers by giving a better price for their produce, it will also reduce on food wastage.

It has been made possible following the grant, awarded by the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative.

Matthew Havers, founder of Kings Farm Foods, said: “We are thrilled to get started on the project.

“The fund will enable us to really try something new and take a risk and challenge conceptions of egg and the way we eat them.

“Eggs are an ancient food source, often overlooked and one that is still the most nutritionally complete.

“We hope to launch a range of products that can bring the benefits of egg to consumers in exciting and new ways.

Chris Starkie, Managing Director of New Anglia LEP said: “As many people will be recommitting to healthy living in the new year, Kings Farm Foods will be at the forefront with a £20,000 grant to make nutritious and convenient products.

“Using eggs that would otherwise go to waste, the Suffolk business is helping farmers make the most of the produce whilst catering for an industry worth billions of pounds to the economy.”

Mark Reeve, Chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative Programme Board, added:“Kings Farm Foods’ project solves the growing issue of food waste by offering local poultry farmers a fairer price for produce that cannot be sold to supermarkets, and would normally go to waste.

“I am therefore pleased to be able to offer this funding to Kings Farm Foods and look forward to seeing their plans to reduce food waste in action.”

For more information, visit www.agritechgrants.co.uk or call the LEP on 01480 277180.

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