E6 Eggs, Expansion and Inspiration: Bex Tonks on St. Ewe's Big Year

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, hosts Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Bex Tonks, CEO and farmer at St. Ewe Free Range Eggs, for a wide-ranging conversation on growth, values, and future vision in the egg sector.

Bex reflects on a milestone year for the business—winning Packer of the Year at the National Egg & Poultry Awards, a Grocer Gold Award nomination, and recognition by the Sunday Times as one of the UK’s Top 100 fastest-growing companies, where St. Ewe placed 53rd.

While the three joke about needing a bigger boardroom for all the trophies, Bex explains why awards matter: they honour the hard work of their team and farming partners.

The discussion also covers the creation of a new Agricultural Director role, signalling St. Ewe’s continued expansion.

Bex extends an open invitation to passionate candidates—even those outside the egg sector—highlighting the value of a fresh perspective.

A key focus of the episode is B Corp certification, which St. Ewe recently achieved after a three-year journey.

Bex explains how it provided a valuable framework for clarifying company values, strengthening governance, and challenging day-to-day decision-making through the lens of sustainability, people, and purpose.

It’s a journey she believes many agricultural businesses could—and should—embark on.

The conversation also dives into the power of brand-building in eggs.

Bex shares the story of how St. Ewe’s now-iconic packaging was born—complete with chickens on the beach—and how a strong brand became essential for communicating values directly to consumers.

This branding focus, she argues, has driven egg category growth in contrast to sectors like meat, which remain largely own-label.

Looking ahead, Bex reveals plans to expand their packing centre, reinvest in pasteurisation equipment, and launch new value-added products in 2026 aimed at increasing egg consumption.

It’s all part of St. Ewe’s mission to grow efficiently while staying grounded in core values.

On a more personal note, Bex speaks candidly about balancing business with family life, especially while supporting her father through vascular dementia.

This shift is giving her space to think more creatively about future innovations, brand strategies, and community impact.

The episode closes with reflections on long-term growth.

While St. Ewe may appear to be an “overnight success,” its 19-year journey has been built on consistent investment in people, process, and vision.

This year, says Bex, is about fine-tuning the engine before they gear up for another phase of growth.

Packed with insight, humour, and optimism, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the business of eggs, the power of purpose-driven leadership, and what it takes to build a bold, modern agricultural brand.

🎉 Plus: Find out why Bex once took chickens to the beach, what Jeremy Clarkson has to do with St. Ewe’s growth ranking, and why she believes the next wave of agri-brands is just around the corner.