STONEGATE has said it will offer farmers supplying eggs to it a new avian influenza (AI) insurance package in partnership with NFU Mutual – the first cover that the insurer has placed since October 2021.
The AI Group Insurance will give producers hit by AI six months of business interruption cover and will be funded by Stonegate.
See also: Join us at Poultry.Network Live 2023, featuring an expert avian influenza session
The packer said this was one of a number of measures it was undertaking to “minimise external pressures” on farmers.
Stonegate producers will be contacted, outlining the benefits of the policy, which include:
- The importance of securing AI cover and protection for individual producers and the Stonegate supply chain
- Stonegate will be funding a core element of the AI cover
- Individual producers have the option to add additional covers at their own expense (this can take the form of secondary C&D cover for AI, plus additional poultry/farming covers with NFU Mutual)
- Individual producers will need to engage with their NFU Mutual agent and provide the required information so that cover can be placed.
Adrian Gott, CEO of Stonegate, said: “This scheme is all about reducing farmers’ risk, creating a stronger, more robust, sustainable supply chain to ensure our customers have reliable continuity of supply.
“This has been possible because of the exacting packing centre and processing standards that are at the head office of Stonegate in Lacock and the ancillary business that Stonegate does with NFU Mutual. Both the egg processing and egg packing centre facilities have “AA*” Double A star, BRC accreditation – the highest possible technical standard in the industry.”
