An Essex premium turkey producer which has had success exporting its product to America has scooped a brand identity award.

Danbury-based Kelly Turkeys’ impressed the judges with its ‘bred to be wild’ strapline at the annual awards organised by Pig & Poultry Marketing magazine.

The award was presented to Paul Kelly, managing director of Kelly Turkeys, by John Cessford, marketing manager of sponsors ForFarmers, at a ceremony on London’s South Bank.

The judges described Kelly’s as “a clear winner — a brand of substance that is communicated to customers extremely well through an integrated marketing programme”. They described the ‘Bred to be wild’ strapline as very clever, underpinning “an imaginative and progressive business model”.

“Exporting Thanksgiving Turkeys to the US was described by the judging panel as a blinding move and our judges said that they also like to see businesses take a gamble. The genetic diversification made this a really interesting entry,” they added.

Kelly Turkeys was also highly commended in the award for the Poultry Producer of the Year, sponsored by Zoetis UK.

The category judges said: “As an example of how to market a product, Kelly’s has excelled.”

“Winning awards is always exciting, and two on one day was really special,” said Paul.

“Having a passionate, caring team is what makes us successful. We love the challenge, and have lots of exciting projects and new ideas to bring to the market over the next few years.

“America is great fun, and while we may be gambling please be assured it is a well-researched bet.”

Wicks Manor farm, at Tolleshunt Major, near Maldon, which produces and processes pigs, was commended in the health and welfare category.

It was described as “a good solid operation, with speciality products”.

“Wick’s Manor received an impressive nomination from the head chef at Roast Restaurant, Marcus Verberne.

“The care and attention that the pigs at Wick’s Manor receive is directly linked to the quality of the product, and Marcus takes great pride in sharing it with his guests at Roast,” they said.

2 Sisters Food Group, which has sites at Eye and Witham, scooped the Publishers Award For Investment in Tackling Campylobacter.

“Following a £10-million initiative, 2 Sisters Food Group is leading the way in the fight against campylobacter.

During the last year, 2 Sisters has taken a multi-intervention approach, touching all stages of the supply chain from farm, through to end consumer. The judges were greatly encouraged by the work 2 Sisters is doing and would like to award the business today, for its focus and investment, openness and honesty,” judges said.

The Training Initiative award went to BQP - Dalehead Foods, which has sites at Stradbroke, Bury St Edmunds and Linton on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border.

“A great initiative, which uses the college as a shop window, our judges liked this entry for addressing the problem of getting more young farmers into the industry.

“This investment, and BQP’s success is commendable and our judges praise BQP for the support it offers – something everyone talks about doing, but is often hard to find in practice,” said the panel.