L.J. Fairburn and Son Limited has reported a dip in turnover and profit for the year ended 30 September 2025, after an avian flu outbreak at one free-range site and wider egg shortages caused a temporary fall in volumes.
The Lincolnshire-based egg production, packing and distribution business posted revenue of £116.4m, down 2.6% from £119.4m the previous year. Operating profit slipped to £4.0m from £4.1m, while pre-tax profit fell 9.5% to £3.1m. Profit after tax was £2.1m, compared with £2.3m in 2024.
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Despite the lower top line, gross profit increased to £12.9m from £12.7m, with the gross profit margin improving from 10.6% to 11.1%. The directors said this reflected the company’s strategic move from cage production to free-range and organic eggs.
The accounts show a business continuing to invest heavily in production infrastructure. Payments for property, plant and equipment rose to £8.9m, compared with £2.9m a year earlier. Fixed assets increased to £40.7m from £34.4m, while capital commitments not yet provided for in the financial statements jumped to £4.2m from £235,225.
Fairburn said it had continued to invest in land purchases for free-range expansion, new free-range laying facilities and improvements to its rearing operations. The directors said future investment would focus on a new packing centre, additional free-range laying and rearing facilities, feed mill improvements and carbon offsetting projects.
Average employee numbers rose to 260, from 254, with 234 staff in production and rearing and 26 in administrative roles. Total wages and salaries increased to £11.0m from £10.3m. No dividend was proposed for the year.
The company identified ongoing pressure on prices, vulnerability to livestock disease, and fluctuations in feed, fuel and packaging costs as key risks. It said these were being managed through close customer engagement, livestock housing across multiple locations, veterinary audits, operating its own farming facilities, producing its own feed and rearing its own birds.
