Cornwall-based business St Ewe Free Range Eggs has won a national award. 

The company won Best Rural Food Business at the national Rural Business Awards 2020/21.

The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the successes of businesses operating in the UK’s rural economy which, in England alone, contributes £261billion to the nation’s Gross Value Added (GVA) - equating to nearly a fifth of the country’s total economic activity.

St Ewe Free Range Eggs is a multi-award winning free-range egg producer and packer, based near Truro, and have been farming for over 40 years.

The company said it had always put the environment and the welfare of its chickens as its top priority.

Falmouth Packet: St Ewe Free Range Eggs are a multi-award winning free-range egg producer and packer, based in Truo, and have been farming for over 40 years. Picture:PRSt Ewe Free Range Eggs are a multi-award winning free-range egg producer and packer, based in Truo, and have been farming for over 40 years. Picture:PR

Nikki Owen, Head of Marketing at St Ewe, said: "We are incredibly honoured and feel very humbled to have been awarded the title of Best Rural Food Business, especially poignant following one of the hardest years for rural businesses across the country.

"Our success is not just down to us, but our amazing team, producer farms, suppliers and loyal customers without whom we wouldn’t be able to develop and grow as a rural business.

"The unwavering support and positivity we have received from the local community this past year has been truly staggering and we just want to take this opportunity to thank everybody that has played their part."

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Jemma Clifford, Director and Co-Founder of The Rural Business Awards, said: "The last year has been tough for all rural businesses, but we remain amazed at the high calibre of entries to the RBAs and this has certainly continued in the 2020/21 year.

"The judges had a real challenge on their hands when picking the winners and every business shortlisted should be very proud of their achievement of reaching the National Final.

"Our winners have all shown great determination and have bright futures ahead - on behalf of everyone at the Rural Business Awards we congratulate them all."

Alongside their win, St Ewe has also been looking after the local community with their Shell Out to Help Out scheme which has, alongside local charities including CHAOS (Feed Cornwall), FareShare SW, The Hive and Newquay Orchard, contributed over 160,000 eggs to local communities and foodbanks.

Nikki Owen said of the scheme: "We started the Shell Out to Help Out campaign because 52% of our business is in food services and hospitality, and when the third lockdown came along that business disappeared overnight, and you can't furlough a hen.

"We've got 180,000 of them laying eggs every single day, so to avoid food waste, keep staff employed and keep our producer farms going we've been popping up in locations all over Cornwall selling trays of 30 eggs for £3."