A FAMILY-OWNED farming business hopes to be recognised as Large Business of the Year after year-on-year increases in profitability alongside large investments in quality improvement, equipment and personnel.

T Soanes & Sons has been trading for nearly 70 years but has recently driven to be one of the best poultry suppliers in the industry having invested a quarter of a million pounds in equipment including a blast freezer, and hiring a new general manager who has overseen a 300 per cent rise in profitability.

These improvements led to British Red Tractor accreditation for the business and the awarding of a Grade A in BRC Quality Standards.

Sales manager Richard Firth said: "We trade on our exceptional product quality, provenance, exemplary customer service and flexible, personal deliveries six days a week.

"We are proud to have earned a reputation as Yorkshire’s premier poultry supplier."

The farm business rears more than five million birds per year which it sells on to butchers and independent retailers in the county, as well as wholesalers nationwide.

Bosses also plan to sell a range of game products from September, as part of a collaboration with Gourmet Game based in Lincolnshire.

The Driffield-based business also plans to build two new chicken farms and hire a new Live Programme manager to liaise between the Farm manager and office staff in a hope to increase productivity.

Bosses say part of their success is down to their “loyal and flexible” workforce of nearly 100 employees.

One worker, Ben Lee, was a factory team leader before being promoted to the sales office, where he could use his knowledge of the process to improve customer service. In recognition of this asset, the business has introduced a staff appraisal scheme providing career progression opportunities for the team.

Mr Firth described the business's close links with the local community, saying: "Many employees live within a seven mile radius of Church Hill Farm, we buy goods and services locally wherever possible and we support both the Post Office and the pub in the village.

"We have also appointed an environmental officer to manage a taskforce to ensure that we safeguard our environment for the fourth and subsequent generations of the Soanes family."