BQP celebrates 40 years in the British pig industry
18th Feb 2020 / By Alistair Driver
BQP recently marked its 40th anniversary with a celebration event at the Suffolk Food Hall in Ipswich.
The pig farming business, which was established by Andrew Saunders, celebrated its position as the industry-leading higher welfare pig producer with BQP and Tulip staff, as well as suppliers, customers and key figures across the industry, including the NPA's Zoe Davies and Lizzie Wilson.
Speaking at the event, Mr Saunders, who is also agriculture director at Tulip, said: “Our core strategy at BQP focuses on the production of top quality, higher welfare pigs, with considerations of safety, efficiency and CSR responsibilities at the heart of this.
"For 40 years we’ve worked with the best suppliers who have helped us to continue to push forward with the latest farming innovations. We are also proud to count two of the UK’s major retailers as our customers.”
Future plans for BQP include a programme to support the next generation of UK farmers and agricultural experts. Investments have been made towards creating new grower farm opportunities, learning and development programmes and partnerships with leading agricultural learning centres and events.
The company is also investing in improvements to its animal welfare standards to ensure it is operating at optimal levels of sustainability. This is led being led by reductions in the use of soy in animal feed, with ongoing research looking at alternatives that could eliminate soy use altogether.
Mr Saunders added: “We’re already looking ahead to the next 40 years of BQP, including attracting a new generation of farmers and enhancing our green credentials. Sustainable farming will remain a key priority as we strive to set new benchmarks in industry practices."
Zoe and Lizzie congratulated BQP on its four decades at the heart of the British pig industry. "The company has done a lot for the British pig industry over the past 40 years and they clearly have some exciting plans for the future," Zoe said.
Pictured - Left to right: Richard Gooding, Grower Farms Manager at BQP; Paul Arundel, Breeding Farms Manager at BQP; Andrew Saunders, BQP Founder and Agriculture Director at Tulip Ltd; Howard Revell, Production Director at BQP/Tulip.