Farm secures £1.9m investment to expand free-range egg production
Nafferton Wold Farms Ltd, an agricultural enterprise based in East Yorkshire, has secured a £1.9m investment from NatWest.
The funds will support the business to expand its egg production facilities and will be used to create a new 32,000 free-range egg unit, known as Strawberry Fields, on its existing land.
There is also a new 70kW solar array on the roof of the new Strawberry Field Egg Unit, which is funded by the loan.
Founded in 1997 by Jim Dewhirst, Nafferton Wold Farms Ltd started as an arable farming business before transitioning its focus to egg production.
The company now manages 62,800 hens across two sites: the Far West Free-Range Unit and the Wold Road Unit, supplying major grocery retailers including Chippindale Foods (Morrisons).
With support from NatWest, NaffertonWold Farms says it will continue to strengthen its position as a leading player in the UK’s agriculture industry.
Philip Marshall, relationship manager at NatWest, said: “We are pleased to support Nafferton Wold Farms Ltd with its expansion project.
“This investment not only represents a positive step for the business but also underscores our commitment to assisting local agricultural enterprises in realising their growth potential and we look forward to continuing to help and guide the team in making their business goals a reality.”
Richard John Dewhirst, director at Nafferton Wold Farms Ltd, added: “The support from NatWest comes at a pivotal moment for our business.
“With the recent increase in egg prices, we believe this investment will not only enhance our capacity but also contribute to the sustainability of our diversified farming operations.
“We are excited about the future and the opportunities this expansion will bring, and we can’t thank the team at NatWest enough.”
In parallel with its egg production, Nafferton Wold Farms Ltd also operates an arable farming business, E Reed & Son, managing over 2,000 acres of family-owned land and producing a variety of crops which support its farming ecosystem, including wheat, barley, oilseed rape, vining peas, high-quality pre-pack potatoes, and maize.
Additionally, the business operates a 500kW EWT wind turbine on Nafferton Wold and a 100kW ground-mounted photovoltaic array at the free-range layer unit, diversifying its income streams.
