Introducing
Jim Johnston

Jim has had over 30 years experience of the integrated poultry industry before deciding to fulfil a long held ambition to start his own Agri-business consultancy company focused on supporting businesses in this exciting and dynamic sector.

After studying poultry husbandry at the West of Scotland Agricultural College he commenced work in the poultry breeding business initially with Pfizer H&N and then also with Ross Breeders New Zealand Ltd.

Jim returned to the UK and commenced working within the commercial egg sector with Daylay eggs setting up rearing operations in North Yorkshire before being promoted to manage the Scottish rearing business at Thornton in Fife.

In 1986 Jim joined the Marshall Food Group and worked here until 1995 gaining valuable experience in all aspects of integrated chicken production and retail customer requirements.

Between 1996 and 2002 Jim held a number of senior positions within the Rainbow Chicken business in South Africa. As a main board director of this listed company he was involved throughout a period of transformation that very successfully turned around the fortunes of this large integrated chicken business.

The successful joint venture between Rainbow and Cobb Vantress Inc which set up the Cobb South Africa business was another notable achievement involving a team led by Jim.

By engaging Jims’ services you not only get the benefit of his 30 years of international experience but also the advantage of utilising the many specialist associates and contacts that he has worked with and gained confidence in over the years.

Dave Broxton

With a Diploma in Management from Manchester Metropolitan University gained in 1996, Dave has spent his 25 year career to date managing poultry processing operations across the United Kingdom. In this time he has worked for a number of organisations most recently managing a large business unit for Grampian Country Food Group in Wales.

He is a hand on operational manager with an impressive record of success in establishing, developing and managing high quality, low cost manufacturing facilities, and in implementing process improvements to optimise productivity, quality, service and profitability.

Throughout his career Dave has produced both fresh and frozen products for the challenging British retail sector, servicing customers like Sainsbury, Morrison, Asda and Marks and Spencer.

Dave has experience of running both operations and the sales disciplines of a processing business. Having been profit responsible for a site with an annual turnover of £105m and an employee base of 400 he has considerable knowledge and experience that can be utilised to improve the performance of processing factories.

Bernard Green

A qualified engineer Bernard has been involved in the poultry sector for the last 13 years with Rainbow Chicken Ltd of South Africa. During this time Bernard has been responsible for all agricultural investment projects with that company in breeding, broiler and hatchery operations. He has developed a specialist technical knowledge in ventilation, cooling, and air management systems for poultry houses, hatcheries and processing plant live bird reception areas.

The specialist services offered include: 

·         Analysing existing facilities to establish whether they can be better utilised (at the least possible cost).

·         Renovating/upgrading existing facilities.

·         Designing new facilities.

·         Evaluating quotations.

·         Ventilation training.

Duncan Jones

Duncan has been a Business Development Consultant since 1987 with his own consultancy and has written and delivered a number of programmes for both small privately owned companies and large multinational organisations ranging from Strategic plans, New Business Development, Customer Retention, Leadership, Management Development, Organisation Change Workshops. Duncan is a Non Executive Director of a plc. Also senior adviser to Buckland Leadership Ltd, and Mitsubishi Corporation World Leadership Programme, he is also a Member of the Wales Management Council Advisory Group to Welsh Assembly Government.

Margarita Kashirina

Margarita graduated from the University of Voronesh with a PhD in Economics. She has a background of working in the Russian poultry industry having worked with one of the countries largest integrators.

She has been working in poultry business for more than 10 years. Since 2006 Margarita has been the Russian representative of ‘Food Chain Partners Worldwide Ltd’ during this time she has played an active part in projects to develop new business models and business improvement programmes for large integrated companies.

Her responsibilities also include developing the Russian market through relationship building with existing and new customers as well as helping with translation of the business documents and technical literature.

Eric Mooiweer

Eric has been a business consultant for over 14 years. Having worked across mainly food processing and pharmaceutical industries focussing on improving productivity, material yields etc. the results have been sustained substantial cost reductions or consistent higher output. Areas of expertise include supply chain optimisation and creating an effective low cost factory.

Jaap Obdam

Having Graduated with a Master Degree in Food Technology from University of Wageningen, Agricultural State University of Netherlands.

Jaap has extensive experience in major poultry and fish processing companies in his native Holland and Brazil and has been responsible for primary and further processing operations with focused skills in the areas of processing and de-boning yields, new product development, food safety (Salmonella Zero program) and quality

He has developed integrated quality systems covering the total supply chain from breeding to the end product on the retail shelf.

Since 2004 Jaap has been consulting and worked on projects in Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, East Africa, and the Philippines.

Phil Rowan

A qualified engineer Phil has worked for a period of 30 years in mills producing livestock feed rations. Starting his career in mill management Phil progressed to project management and to become the engineering manager for ABNA, the largest compound livestock feed manufacturer in the United Kingdom.

In his career he has been responsible for both new investment projects but also for optimising the efficiencies of existing production facilities. Highlighting bottlenecks in the process and correcting these along with ensuring that consistent physical and nutritional products are produced has been his key area of focus. Achieving this while operating cost effectively and seeking always to reduce production costs through the increasing of throughput, maximising up time through planned maintenance programmes and maximising yield are also important factors that Phil will work on.

He has been responsible for the project management of feed mills built in UK, Europe and Russia. In addition he has managed new factory projects in Shanghai, China and has significant operational experience having worked for the UK’s largest agricultural business ABNA in its milling division.

Phil brings a wealth of practical milling skills and experience to the team and he has considerable experience of working internationally.