Stonegate and Thames Valley in egg link

By John Farrant

MAJOR egg operations of Stonegate Farmers and Thames Valley Foods have combined their egg production, packing and processing.

The companies will maintain separate sales and marketing teams.

Both companies will come under common ownership, but it will be without Countryside Free Range Eggs, which will operate independently in future.

Chief executive Jeffrey Vergerson, who brought Countryside into Thames Valley, will take it out again, made possible by the link with Stonegate.

He confirmed that it will “continue to enhance its reputation as a leading free-range and organic egg company with increased investment and development of new products”.

Together the combined operation of Stonegate and Thames Valley expects to bring significant rationalization of both businesses, bringing cost savings and greater strength in the market place.

It follows the move of other national egg marketing brands to get together over the past year or so.