Tom Barron Limited has signed a deal with Novogen following a decision by Hendrix Genetics to put three breeds distributed by Tom Barron through its own subsidiary, Joice and Hill Poultry Ltd.

Whilst Hendrix Genetics said in a statement that Tom Barron would continue as a contracted distributor, the company’s announcement revealed that from July this year Joice and Hill would begin deliveries of the Shaver Brown, ISA Warren and ISA Brown in the United Kingdom and Irish Republic. The company, which is wholly owned by Hendrix, already distributes the Bovans Brown. Hendrix said that all chicks would come from UK-based parent flocks and would be fully compliant with UK codes of practice, including the Lion code.

The statement said that Joice and Hill had more than 45 years of experience, a reputation for technical excellence and a deep understanding of the needs of the UK egg sector. It was committed to the core values of quality, trust and partnership, and the statement said that additional investment was being made in the farming base, logistics and hatchery.
Nick Bailey, managing director of Joice and Hill, said, "We will continue to develop our unique partnership approach and support clients of the Bovans, ISA, Shaver and Warren brands, regardless of their hatchery of origin".

The agreement that Tom Barron has signed with Novogen will involve the distribution of the NOVOgen Brown and NOVOgen White layers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Neil Leeming, CEO of Tom Barron Limited, said, "We are totally convinced that the Novogen layers will be a welcome alternative for the UK and Irish layer industry. Being a family company, established more than 100 years ago, it is very important to us to give our customers a real choice of the best products available around the world. This new venture also secures the supply of commercial layers from the only independent commercial layer hatchery in the UK and Ireland."

Mickaël Le Helloco, general manager of Novogen, said, "We are extremely happy with this agreement to market the Novogen products in this important part of North West Europe. Since the introduction of Novogen in 2008 we quickly have become a well recognised and important supplier of layer breeding stock around the world. Field results have proven that, thanks to our genetic strategy, our layers produce very well under different circumstances, including the barn and free range systems".
The Tom Barron business began when Tom Barron developed a hobby into a poultry breeding business that achieved international success in egg laying tests as far afield as North America, South Africa and Australia. The Preston-based company is now a diversified group serving different parts of the food industry, although the poultry industry remains central to the group’s activities.

The company has been supplying chicks of layer breeds for more than 80 years from its hatchery. Tom Barron also provides growing pullets of a range of breeds and undertakes contract rearing for other suppliers. It was one of the first to introduce multi-tier systems for floor rearing in the UK, and all of the company’s commercial rearing farms are now fully equipped for multi-tier rearing. All breeder laying farms are close to the hatchery.

In 2005 the group acquired Fayre Game, the UK’s largest producer of quail and quail eggs. Fayre Game has breeding, hatching and rearing facilities and the UK’s only fully EU licensed quail and game processing factory, providing fresh and frozen products for major retailers.

Further expansion followed later in 2005 with the purchase of Clifton Dairies, a major supplier of milk and dairy products to retail and wholesale outlets. It has a dedicated supply agreement for kosher milk. Clifton Dairies processes all the milk from Tom Barron Farms’ two dairy units and also purchases milk from other farmers in the Preston and Lytham areas.

Novogen is a French company with headquarters at Quintin, Brittany. Groupe Grimaud is the majority shareholder. Novogen supplies layer grand parent stock and parent stock to the independent players in the egg industry. It is a clear part of Novogen’s strategy not to integrate the full distribution chain by getting involved in commercial layer hatcheries.