Country Lane Foods Secures Future in Cornwall with £200,000 Investment in Egg Grading Technology

Family Business Chooses Cornwall Over Outsourcing

Country Lane Foods, a family-run business based in Liskeard with more than 40 years in the UK egg industry, has completed a major investment in state-of-the-art egg grading technology.

The upgrade was made possible through a £200,000 grant from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub Grants Programme, part of the Good Growth Programme which delivers the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The funding has safeguarded existing jobs, created new full-time roles, and helped the business secure new customer contracts, allowing it to remain in Cornwall instead of outsourcing operations to other parts of the UK.

“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.”

Doubling Capacity and Meeting Growing Demand

The new egg grading machine has doubled the company’s processing capacity, helping it meet surging demand as retailers move away from caged egg production. The shift to cage-free eggs has opened opportunities for regional suppliers like Country Lane Foods to play a larger role in national food supply.

“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.”

Technology Supporting Cornwall’s Rural Economy

The new equipment brings automation, real-time farm data analytics, improved waste management and precision tracking to enhance sustainability.

By investing locally, Country Lane Foods has:

• Retained its workforce in Liskeard

• Created five new full-time jobs across operations, logistics and quality control

• Strengthened ties with regional farmers through fair pricing and long-term contracts

• Reduced reliance on imported eggs, supporting UK production and food security

“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.”