Eastern Daily Press

Norfolk eggs exporter Hi Breeds International has been presented with a Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in recognition of its contribution to the UK poultry farming industry. The Award for International Trade was presented to managing director Nick Chandler by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk Sir Timothy Colman in a ceremony at the firm’s Norwich office. Hi Breeds identifies and sources fertilised eggs from UK farmers and sells them overseas, predominantly to non-EU countries. In 1998 this market did not exist. Mr Chandler said “We are thrilled to receive The Queen’s Award. It is gratifying recognition of the success of our staff and the companies who have helped us create new markets for British hatching eggs”.

Witnessing the ceremony were representatives from some of the dozens of businesses HI Breeds has worked with in the four years since its launch. “It has been a true team effort, not only for the personnel with HI breeds International, but also in terms of the way we work farmers, customers and our friends at Saudi Arabian Airlines. Said Mr Chandler. With just four employees HI Breeds is one of the smallest businesses in Norfolk, and yet it is a significant player in the farming industry. Sir Timothy commented on how highly motivated and talented he had found the Hi Breeds team. “It was a delight to encounter this company.” Last year Hi Breeds exported 28 million fertilised eggs and was now one of the top five single-commodity exporters to the Middle East from Heathrow. In just four years this Norfolk start-up company has carved out a new market that’s worth up to £4.5m to UK agriculture. At the same time its activities support farming communities in the Middle East and introduce the best of the British poultry industry to the Arab world. Hi Breeds was the third Norfolk firm to win a Queen’s Award. STG awards for its hi-tech emergency lighting strips for aircraft. Oil and Gas engineering company UWG from Norwich won an award for its suspended well abandonment tool, which helps oil companies decommission wells.

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