Farmlay named Egg Packer of the Year at the National Egg & Poultry Awards 2026

The Awards took place in London, bringing together the sector’s leading people and organisations, to celebrate the influential leaders and revolutionary businesses within the industry, with a total of 14 awards presented.

Iain Chapman, Managing Director said: "Winning Egg Packer of the Year is a tremendous honour, recognising the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in our business. From our 100 strong team members and 30 producer partners to our customers, this award reflects the strength and longevity of the retained relationships we've built over many years and our shared commitment to producing high-quality Scottish eggs.”

Founded in 1946, Farmlay is run by the Chapman family. Robert and Ethel Chapman have been at the helm of this growing enterprise until recently being succeeded by the next generation - their son Iain and his wife Debbie. Iain is now Managing Director and the third generation of the family to farm at West Cockmuir near Strichen.  

The business has now grown to producing approximately 350 million eggs annually and packs around seven million eggs a week, supplying Aldi, Lidl, Spar and other local retailers.

Iain added: “We consider our relationship with our producers as very much a partnership with mutual respect built up over many years of successful trading.  

“Over the past year the producer group has greatly expanded. Several new farmers have joined, and six existing members have increased their bird numbers to help meet market demand.”

As a result, Farmlay, and their partner suppliers, total 1.2 million free range hens. The Chapman family say this growth will continue through 2025 and 2026 – with the goal of reaching 1.45 million birds by October 2026. Alongside this growth, the Chapmans estimate that more than £650,000 is being returned into Scottish agriculture every week – employing local people, local suppliers, maintenance companies and working with supplying producers.

Iain added: “While the business has grown in output, we have also grown our team by 15%, and last year we developed and extended the existing offices, installing temperature control, with underfloor heating from biomass boilers and air conditioning to ensure that staff have a pleasant environment to work in. Each desk has a view from a window to the beautiful rolling landscapes of Aberdeenshire.  

“Moreover, in 2025 we invested over £3.5 million in our packing centre including £2.4 million in a second state-of-the-art egg packer to ensure we could fulfil our contracts and would have two machines running to avoid any disruption to this vital supply chain if there are machinery breakdowns or faults.

“We've continued and will continue to invest in our facilities, technology and people, and we're incredibly proud to receive this award and grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success."

As Farmlay celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, the business remains driven to deliver quality, focus on family values and team member welfare – all of which has underpinned its success for generations.

Why Farmlay won Egg Packer of the Year:

Significant investment in innovation - Farmlay has invested more than £4 million in its packing centre over the past three years, including a £2.4 million state-of-the-art grading machine, robotics and automation to improve efficiency, resilience and capacity.

Supporting Scottish agriculture - The business works with 30 producer partners and has expanded its free-range flock to more than 1.2 million hens, returning over £650,000 every week to the Scottish agricultural economy.

Investment in partnerships - Farmlay has grown its workforce by 15%, invested in improved staff facilities and training, and built long-standing relationships with producers.

Growth in technology - Through investment in technology, Farmlay now packs around 7 million eggs each week, producing approximately 350 million eggs annually, to support supply chain reliability.

Committed to the future - The Chapman family has and is continuing to invest in modern facilities, sustainable growth and long-term producer and retailer relationships, ensuring Scottish egg production remains competitive and resilient for years to come.