Country Lane Foods, a family-run business with over 40 years of experience in the UK egg industry, has successfully completed a transformative investment in a state-of-the-art egg grading machine.
The initiative has safeguarded jobs, created new full-time roles, and secured new customer contracts.
This milestone was made possible through a £200,000 grant from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub Grants Programme. The Programme is part of the Good Growth Programme, which delivers the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. It has enabled the company to remain rooted in Cornwall and avoid outsourcing operations to other UK areas. At a time when the business was operating at full capacity and facing difficult decisions, this investment has not only preserved its local workforce but also positioned it for national growth.
“At application stage, we were at a crossroads,” said Scott Lapthorne, Business Owner. “We were operating at maximum capacity and considering outsourcing all operations. Thanks to the grant, we’ve been able to invest in a key asset that allows us to stay in Cornwall, grow sustainably, and provide real living wage employment to our team.”
The new egg grading machine has doubled the company’s processing capacity, enabling it to meet surging demand driven by the retail sector’s shift to cage-free eggs. This aligns with a broader industry trend, as major UK retailers transition away from caged egg production, creating a significant opportunity for regional suppliers like Country Lane Foods.
“It’s fantastic to see how this grant has helped Country Lane Foods take a big step forward,” said Kirsty Miles-Musgrave from the Growth Hub.
“Supporting local businesses to grow and thrive is at the heart of what we do. This project is a great example of how the Growth Hub, through the Good Growth Programme, is helping to deliver real, lasting impact across Cornwall—boosting local jobs, innovation, and resilience in our rural economy.”
The new machine introduces a suite of advanced features that modernise operations and enhance product quality through automation, real-time farm data analytics, feedback loops with producers, improved waste management and precision tracking to support sustainability goals.
This investment is more than a technological upgrade, it is a commitment to Cornwall’s rural economy and the UK’s food security. By choosing to invest locally, Country Lane Foods has:
- Retained its workforce in Liskeard,
- Created five new full-time jobs across operations, logistics, and quality control,
- Strengthened relationships with regional farmers, ensuring fair pricing and long-term viability,
- Reduced reliance on imported eggs, supporting domestic production and supply chain resilience.
“This project has given us the stability to grow, the tools to innovate, and the confidence to compete nationally,” added Scott. “We’re proud to be building a future that supports our team, our farmers, and our community.”
ENDS
