Farming: Strong trading drives H&H profits up 40%

The Carlisle-based H&H Group has reported a record £1.37 million trading profit for the year ending June 2010, up 40 per cent on the previous 12 months, writes Andrew Arbuckle.

H&H attributes this success to developing efficient systems, effective marketing and customer focus. In addition, the sale of development land introduced a further 665,000, making a final profit before tax of 2.035m.

The overall turnover for the H&H Group, which comprises six operating companies, was up 5.3 per cent to 9.516m, on the back of which the board recommended a final dividend of 23.5p, making a total of 30p for the year, a rise of 30 per cent.

Harrison & Hetherington, the livestock business at the heart of the group, traded over 100m worth of livestock, up 3 per cent. After very strong trading in the first half of the year supported by currency which helped facilitate exports and restrict imports, the remainder witnessed some trend reversal with weaker prices against an on going background of declining livestock numbers nationally.

• East Lothian farmers Peter and Hilary Cochran who have run the famous Knowes farm shop for 30 years have won the Local Food Farmers of the Year award at a ceremony in London.

The husband and wife team were recognised for their passion for farming, their commitment to growing local food and the sense of community attached to their farm shop.

The Cochran's started out selling eggs from the hens' houses in the 1960s, before opening the farm shop in 1979. Today they sell 900 dozen eggs weekly and manage 150ha of arable tenancy which produces arable crops, potatoes and other vegetables.