BUMBLE HOLE EGGS added more than a million pounds to pre-tax profits in its financial year to 31 December 2018.

They were up to £1.65m, compared with £413,261 the year before, set against turnover of £19.3m (2017: £17.6m).

Directors said the firm was shifting, as the seconds market declined, towards more direct supply from farmers “giving our customers stability on long-term prices”.

It cites its relationship as a major supplier to Marks and Spencer as an example of this.

“As the industry develops, BHG must continue to position itself as a major supplier in the sector.”

“This strategy removes the volatility that has been a feature of the processing industry and removes the dependency on fluctuating wholesale and spot seconds pricing, offering farmers the options for longer-term deals linked to the cost of production.”

The report also mentions a new “state of the art” egg boiling factory, which will improve capacity as well as efficiency.