EGGS marketed by the granddaughter of Scotland’s largest producer will feature on the sides of new Tesco lorries.
Launched last year, the Kitty Campbell free range eggs now account for seven per cent of the out of John Campbell’s Glenrath Farms in Peebleshire.
The 20-year-old Kitty’s sister, Amy, 22, marketing manager, said: “The brand has exceeded our expectations and getting it out to the whole of the Tesco market has been a huge boost to our family-run business.”
The sisters are two of seven granddaughters now involved in the multi-million pound West Linton business which produces organic, free range, barn and ‘good value’ eggs for a range of markets
The Kitty Campbell range was launched in Scotland last year in response to the success of rivals Happy Eggs.
From a start of supplying Tesco stores in Scotland in April, the range was extended to 300 of the supermarket giants’ stores UK-wide that summer.
And now the company is in talks with all the other major supermarkets in the country with a view to supplying them too.
Egg baron Mr Campbell explained: “Our opposition have a very good brand called Happy Eggs and we had to react to that.
“Kitty has been working in the business since she was 14, gathering eggs and looking after hens. She lives on our organic farm and looks after some of the hens there. She loves her hens.
“The Kitty Campbell eggs are chosen very carefully for yolk colour and the nice dark brown eggs. The brand is growing fast and doing well for the company.”
The Harper Adams student finishes her studies this summer when she will return to work full time in the business alongside her older sister, a Newcastle graduate.
Mr Campbell started egg production at Glenrath in 1961 and has grown the business over the last five decades to become the country’s biggest operator.
But he said last year saw profits fall by 40 per cent because of over production in the UK
“In July 2010 we were selling second quality eggs at seven and a half pence a dozen. Today we are selling the same quality eggs at £1.50 a dozen.”
The upturn is because of new EU rules on conditions for hens which have seen a 25 per cent reduction of the industry.
“Everybody has had to put in new buildings: we’ve spent £46million trying to bring our facilities up to the standards set,” said Mr Campbell.
But as the company which employs 200 people pushes to expand, he says legislation is slowing the process.
“We are trying to get more production units up but the planning process is the big thing that is holding Glenrath Farm up. It’s not the planners but the legislation: the red tape is horrendous.”
Tesco launched the new fleet of 14 lorries to champion local produce last Friday with the vehicles featuring a map of Scotland including the Kitty Campbell eggs.