THE country's largest supplier of free range eggs is recruiting more producers.

Noble Foods supplies millions of eggs a day to major retailers and expects demand to grow by up to ten per cent this year.

Demand for free range chickens and eggs has been boosted recently by high-profile campaigns and programmes involving celebrity chefs.

Noble has already made significant investments in free range eggs on its own farms and is now running a major recruitment campaign aimed at existing producers and potential new producers.

John Holt, contract supplies manager, said: "Despite higher feed costs that have absorbed some of the increase in producer prices, free range egg production is still one of the most profitable parts of farming and demand is expanding."

He says free range can be added to a wide range of businesses - from small mixed farms with other livestock to large-scale arable units.

He added: "And free range is one of the few options for new entrants to farming. There's no need for previous experience in poultry."

Noble Foods is based in Tring, Hertfordshire, but has a team of eight regional field staff who offer technical advice on the site, buildings, equipment, and on gaining planning permission.

Mr Holt said: "Once profuction starts, we offer a lot of support and are in contact at least weekly in the early days, until all parties are happy and confident.

Mr Holt said producers expanding into a second or third flock have different demands, but encouraged them to see what was possible as there have been recent rapid developments in buildings and equipment.

The company has packing and technical product development sites around Britain. It has already invested £3.5m in the free range sector in the past 12 months.

An additional £4.5m has been spent on an ultra-modern packing centre in Lincolnshire with further developments in packing, processing and the distribution chain planned.

The company will be at the British Pig and Poultry Fair, Stoneleigh, on May 13 and 14 and Mr Holt can be contacted on 01623- 870-384, or at john.holt@noblefoods.

co.uk.