PRESS RELEASE – AWARD WIN NICK TAYLOR OF TC & N TAYLOR LTD
The very best people, and companies, in agriculture were celebrated on Friday 10th December at the eighth Farm Business Food and Farming Industry Awards, with a presentation hosted by agriculture minister James Paice in the gothic splendour of the House of Commons Members’ Dining Room.
An audience drawn from every part of the food and farming supply chain enjoyed the wit of Observer columnist Andrew Rawnsley as after dinner speaker and host for the awards ceremony.
PROGRESSIVE FARMER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY AGROVISTA WAS NICK TAYLOR OF TC & N TAYLOR LTD
Nick Taylor is an organic vegetable and pig farmer from North Shropshire. With the support of his father, Chris, Nick runs TC & N Taylor Ltd, who employ 7 full-time staff from the local area. The farm covers 1300 acres and produces 3000 tonnes of packed carrots, 3000 tonnes of potatoes, and 3000 pigs annually, destined for the supermarkets and premium pork market. Also grown are onions, parsnips and spinach.
Nick’s aim for his farm was to make organics more accessible to more people over a longer period of time throughout the year, by bringing down the costs of production and extending the seasons. This meant setting the target of 20-25% annual growth. Other goals were to remain innovative, but true to the principles of Organic production.
His desire and determination to develop the family business has led to annual growth of 40% through extended seasons for carrots and potatoes and reduced losses on the pig unit meaning more pigs reared per sow per year.
Nick’s willingness to trial new techniques and his drive to grow profitability received praise from the judges who were impressed by his growing skills and commercial acumen.
This year’s winners of the Farm Business Food and Farming Industry Awards 2010 are:
Farm Business of the Year – sponsored by Genus
- Winner: Gressingham Foods
- Highly commended: Oaklands Farm Eggs
Progressive Farmer of the Year – sponsored by Agrovista
- Winner: Nick Taylor of TC & N Taylor Ltd
- Highly commended: Andy Fussell, of Fussell Farms
Rural Enterprise Award – sponsored by Novartis Animal Health
- Winner: Barleylands
- Highly commended: Packington Moor Farm Shop
Family Business of the Year – sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers
- Winners: Mawsons of Bailey Ground
- Highly commended: Warburtons Farms
Agronomist of the Year – sponsored by DuPont
- Winner: Richard Palmer of Farm Vision Arable Services Ltd.
- Highly commended: Andrew Wade of Agrovista
Food Chain Marketing Award – sponsored by Elanco Animal Health
- Winner: The Happy Egg Company, Noble Foods
- Highly commended: Sunny Hill Eggs
The Green Award for Renewable Energy Development – sponsored by Growhow
- Corporate Business Winner: Thanet Earth
- Farm Business Winner: Mackie’s of Scotland
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Safety Revolutions
- Corporate Business Winner: McDonald’s Restaurants
- Farm Business Winner: LE Barnes & Sons Ltd
Retailer of the Year – sponsored by AGCO Finance Massey Ferguson
- Non-Multiple Retailer of the Year Winner: Keelham Hall Farm Shop
- Multiple Retailer of the Year Winner: Sainsbury’s
Personality of the Year – sponsored by McDonald’s Restaurants
- Winner: Jimmy Doherty – for his role in promoting science in the farm and food chain
Enterprise and Innovation in New Media – sponsored by Massey Ferguson
- Winner: Yeo Valley
Notes:
The 2010 Food & Farming Industry Awards are organised by Farm Business magazine, Published by Grove House Publishing Ltd.
For further press information on the awards go to www.farmbusiness.cc
Or contact the publishers on 01892 861664, awards@ghpublishing.co.uk
