July 2009 - Flagship
McDonald’s – the fast food chain chose David Brass as one of seven flagship farms to be part of a three-year project to encourage sharing of sustainable agricultural practices.
David Brass, producer and owner of The Lakes Free Range Egg Company is the only British flagship farm and was chosen from 500,000 European holdings supplying McDonald’s.
Mr Brass supplies 25 million eggs to McDonald’s each year. They come from both his own 48,000-bird free-range flock, plus 38 local egg producers who supply his business.
His company was chosen because of its innovative animal welfare and environmental practices. This focuses on planting trees outside his chicken sheds to encourage the birds to go outside.
Mr Brass said: “It really is a win-win situation. There is no down side. You plant trees on land that would usually be covered in puddles and no use for farming anyway, and this encourages the birds to go outside which improves welfare and reduces diseases.
“The customer wants to know the birds are outside so they’re happy and the trees have much wider benefits. Everyone wins.”
Mr Brass said in the past few years 30,000 trees have been planted on his own farm, plus over 100,000 trees across Cumbria in the past 18 months. His new flagship farm status will encourage more farmers to adopt similar practices and he is already spreading the word through farm visits.
McDonald’s has developed this initiative in conjunction with the Oxfordshire-based Food Animal Initiative. All flagship farms can demonstrate novel, sustainable ways of dealing with a range of issues, from soil, water and energy use to animal welfare and employee wellbeing.
Mr Brass said it was uplifting to have been picked from thousands of suppliers across Europe, but dedicated his success to his whole team. He added that the flagship farm programme works both ways, as he hopes to pick up new ideas from other farmers as well as spreading the word about his own methods.
Karl Fritz, McDonald’s Europe chief supply chain officer, said: “Our customers care about where food comes from and we want to build on that trust. Flagship farms highlights successful innovations ahead of the mainstream and we believe it will help us assure the future of sustainable agricultural production. The ultimate goal of initiatives like this is to assure supply, maintain price stability and respond to consumer demand for responsibly sourced, traceable produce, so that everyone benefits.”
Nov 2008 - FW Award
The Lakes Free Range Egg Company was nationally recognised as a leading light in the farming industry when crowned with the "Poultry Farmer of the Year Award” at the Farmers Weekly Awards 2008, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Judges were impressed by the high welfare and environmental credentials, and the care taken with producers. “David and Helen’s dedication and focus on the free-range egg market is second to none. They are reaping big rewards from their green ethics” said the judges that included last year’s winner Paul Kelly, Farmers Weekly writer Lucy Knowles and John Newton from ADAS.
Nov 2008
26 November - 7 December 2008 was National Tree planting week. First started in 1975 it is the UK’s largest tree celebration which marks the start of the winter tree planting season.
At The Lakes Free Range Egg Co. Ltd, we have a continuous tree planting programme. What makes us different from other free range egg producers is that we plant 1000’s of trees on all our farms and we help our egg producer’s plant trees on their farms too.
In National Tree Planting week our farmers planted over 3000 trees! We don’t just plant in one week of the year, that’s why our farms have planted on average, 12000 trees!
June 2008
At the recent awards dinner held by Business in the Community, (an organisation dedicated to helping in all facets of community life and headed by HRH The Prince of Wales), the Lakes was awarded a 2008 'Big Tick' for its beneficial effects on community life and the economic viability of its surrounding community of farmers and company staff. The award also recognised the environmental benefits of the 100,000 trees, shrubs and bushes planted by company suppliers in the last few years.
May 2008
12 May 2008 Lakes launches Natures Nest Eggs in almost 200 Wm Morrison stores.Why not visit the website (www.naturesnesteggs.co.uk). The countries first eggs to be produced on farms where the hens are allowed to roam in tree enriched range area whilst living in houses that are up to 70% more energy efficient than normal poultry houses and 1p from each dozen eggs will go to helping wildlife through the provision of Squirrel boxes, bat boxes etc.
April 2008
Lakes eggs announced today that it and its producing farmers have completed plantings of some 100,000 trees to enrich the surroundings of its hens, the farms they live on and the general surroundings of their farms in the north of england. This equates to almost 250 acres of tree planting in the last few years much of which has been at the recommendation of Farm Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) who were responsible for asessing the farms and drawing up planting plans that would give the maximum benefit to both the hens and wildlife in their surroundings.
Mar 2008
Lakes egg producing farmers have in the first week of March planted over 100 acres (40 Ha) of native woodland trees. This is to enrich the free range surroundings the hens have to roam and play in as this has been found to encourage the health and welfare of the birds.
Jan 2007
Congratulations were due to all staff for again passing our annual independently audited 'EFSIS' food safety inspection to British Retail Council standard.
The same inspection awarded a class A pass of 97.5% on HACCP and customer verification.
Dec 2006
A highly successful training day on tree planting,care and husbandry was run by the 'Lakes' in conjunction with Cumbria Farm Wildlife Advisory Group and Friends of the Lake District in early December.
This was as a prelude to the planting of a further 60000 trees by 'Lakes' egg producers on their Cumbrian farms this planting season.
Jun 2006
Dave Brass awarded NFU National Award for "best business development in the food chain" at awards ceremony held at the Hurlingham Club, London. Award presented by Tesco commercial director Mr Steve Murrells.
Feb 2006
"Lakes" demonstrates excellence in Environmental practice through Environwise Supply Chain Partnership.
Jan 2006
"Lakes" yet again achieves Grade A in EFSIS (European Food Safety Inspection Service) Food Safety Verification.
Nov 2005
"Lakes" awarded Farm Business of the Year Award in the Farm Business, 2005 Farming and Food Industry awards.
Oct 2005
"Lakes" awarded McDonald’s award for Outstanding contribution and Leadership in the McDonald’s U.K. system.
Jul 2005
Dave Brass Key Speaker at McDonald’s conference at the Royal Show "Farming For The Future Responding to Customer Needs a case study".
Feb 2005
"Lakes" awarded Investors In People Status.
Jan 2005
Awarded Cumberland News/North West Regional Development Agency/Rural Regeneration Cumbria "Herdie" Speciality Food Award.
