East Anglia turkey titan Bernard Matthews will be supplying 3.5 million birds and turkey products for the Christmas market this year, of which 2.5 million are whole turkeys and crowns.

The company, whose business remains international, has just won the UK Private Company Turnaround of the Year 2010 award at the Institute of Turnaround Annual Awards Ceremony.

The company has well and truly stuffed and roasted its critics after making a stunning comeback from a potentially parlous position.

Reporting a loss of £77 million for 2007 and following a UK sales decline of 35 per cent, the Bernard Matthews family shareholders and management, led by Noel Bartram, group CEO, adopted a PwC turnaround and recovery strategy proposal. This led to the appointment of Michael Lunn as chief restructuring officer supported by turnaround directors Keith Pringle and Tim Morris.

PwC business recovery and strategy groups – led by Stephen Oldfield and Jim McDonnell – acted as advisers.

The group re-financed debt, streamlined processes, reduced costs and progressively re-positioned the brand around a fresh British turkey growth strategy.

Sales have now stabilised and in 2009 the company recorded a group turnover of £330 million, generating a loss before tax of £4 million.

Supported by Burdale Financial Ltd, the company, now two years into its four-year development programme, is the largest British turkey farmer and producer and continues to make good progress in returning to profitable and sustainable growth.

Since Bernard Matthews launched his business in 1950 with just 20 eggs and a second-hand incubator, the brand has been synonymous with providing top quality cooked meats, fresh and frozen breaded and traditional turkey products at affordable prices for all.

Today, Bernard Matthews Farms upholds its original values; 100 per cent British turkey meat remains at the heart of the brand and no artificial colours, flavours or unnecessary artificial preservatives are used. 

The group’s farms and factories are open to regular unannounced inspections from independent bodies such as DEFRA, the RSPCA and representatives of all major UK supermarket retailers at any time during the year.