A POULTRY firm which rears more than five million birds a year on its 11 farms in the Wolds has entered the Large Business category of The Press Business Awards 2016.

Founded by Tom Soanes as a farm-based business in 1947, T Soanes & Son is a family-owned business which has been rearing and preparing poultry for almost 70 years.

It sells its premium chicken to butchers, restaurateurs and independent retailers in Yorkshire and to wholesalers nationwide. “We have a fleet of 14 vehicles and pride ourselves on servicing our accounts personally,” it said.

“Since the Soanes family appointed Nigel Upson to the position of general manager in 2013, the business has invested in capital equipment and personnel and has attained key nationally recognised quality and animal welfare standards. The new management team created a five-year plan that gave the business a vision and direction.”

New roles had been created to focus the business on the future, with growth at 25 per cent growth and an 800 per cent increase in profitability.

In a bid to be best in its sector, the company conducted a customer survey and its results drove a number of improvements, including the appointment of a quality manager and investment in training in standards.

“Our investment in personnel and procedures resulted in a Grade A of the BRC Quality Standard and the Red Tractor certification that has reaped rewards through access to new national markets. The achievement of BRC and Red Tractor accreditations has also opened up new channels of distribution with nationwide distributors, manufacturers and catering butchers.

“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 and enhanced our portfolio with the launch of a comprehensive range of game in September 2015.”

The firm had invested in future growth by building three new chicken rearing farms, one free-range and two standard, and by creating a new live programme manager post to liaise between the farm managers and the factory, and to manage grower performance tables that motivate growers and increase productivity.

It said it had a loyal and flexible workforce and close links to the local community.