🐔 British Poultry Business: Billions to the UK Economy
📌 Why the UK Poultry Industry Matters
The British poultry meat industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in agriculture, providing food security, jobs, and economic stability to millions. In 2023, this industry made a gross value-added contribution of £8.5 billion to the UK’s GDP, proving that poultry farming and processing are not just about chicken on the plate—they’re about powering the national economy.
Unlike other agricultural subsectors, poultry meat has consistently outperformed the UK economy’s average growth. From 2013 to 2023, the industry grew by 31% in real terms, compared to just 17% for the overall UK economy and only 12% for agriculture as a whole.
In this blog, we will dive deep into the economic impact of poultry farming in the UK, exploring turnover, employment, taxation, growth rates, and supply chain effects, all while keeping our lens on poultry .
💷 Poultry Industry’s Billion-Pound Contribution to GDP
The UK poultry sector is not just an agricultural player; it is a powerhouse of economic activity. In 2023, the poultry meat industry contributed £8.5 billion to GDP, with:
- £2.8 billion generated directly by poultry businesses.
- The remainder fueled by the supply chain and workforce spending.
This makes poultry meat a cornerstone of British food production, representing 26% of all livestock GDP contributions and 9% of the entire agricultural sector.
👉 Note: UK poultry economy, poultry GDP contribution, British chicken farming, and poultry industry growth strengthen visibility.
📊 Poultry Industry Growth Outpacing UK Agriculture
Between 2013 and 2023:
- UK poultry industry expanded 31% in real terms.
- The broader UK economy grew only 17%.
- Agriculture as a whole grew by 12%.
This highlights poultry as the most dynamic livestock sector, outperforming beef, sheep, and pig farming. The 2.5x faster growth rate compared to agriculture means that poultry farming is driving the future of British farming.
💵 Poultry Meat Industry Turnover: Over £10 Billion
Turnover is a key indicator of how much money flows through the sector. In 2023, turnover reached £10.3 billion, divided between:
- 34% from poultry farmers (broiler and layer farms).
- 66% from poultry processors (processing plants, value-added meat products).
This split shows how the poultry supply chain is balanced between farm-level production and post-farm processing, ensuring that the industry captures value at every stage.
🏭 Poultry Processing vs Poultry Farming
Processing is the economic engine of the poultry sector, producing two-thirds of the industry’s turnover. With British consumers demanding chicken meat as the most affordable protein, poultry processors are central to meeting that demand while maintaining export competitiveness.
Poultry farming remains equally vital, providing the raw product—chickens, turkeys, and ducks—that supply both domestic and global markets.
🧾 Poultry Tax Contributions to the UK Exchequer
In 2023, the poultry meat industry contributed £1.9 billion in taxes, equivalent to a third of all UK public spending on agriculture, fisheries, and forestry services in 2022/23.
This revenue stream helps fund public goods like:
- Farming subsidies.
- Agricultural innovation.
- Food safety regulations.
- Veterinary services.
In short, poultry farming is not just self-sustaining—it is a net positive contributor to the UK government’s budget.
👷 Poultry Employment: Over 113,500 Jobs Supported
The poultry sector is also a job creator. In 2023, the industry supported 113,500 jobs across the UK:
- 35,700 workers directly employed.
- 27,100 in poultry processing.
- 8,600 in poultry farming.
- An additional 77,800 indirect jobs supported in the supply chain.
That means for every 100 jobs in poultry, another 220 jobs are created in the wider economy. Poultry farming is therefore one of the most employment-rich agricultural sectors in the UK.
🐥 Poultry Supply Chain Effects
The economic impact of poultry farming extends beyond farms and processing plants. Poultry businesses purchase goods and services from:
- Feed mills.
- Hatcheries.
- Transport companies.
- Equipment manufacturers.
- Veterinary services.
Wages from poultry workers also stimulate the economy, as employees spend earnings on housing, retail, healthcare, and local services.
📈 Why Poultry Outperforms Other Livestock
Poultry dominates because it is:
- Affordable protein for consumers.
- Faster to produce (broilers reach market weight in 6 weeks).
- More feed-efficient (better feed conversion ratio).
- Less land-intensive than cattle or sheep.
These factors make poultry the growth leader in British agriculture.
🛡️ Poultry Industry Resilience
Despite challenges like:
- Avian influenza (bird flu outbreaks).
- Brexit-related export barriers.
- Feed price fluctuations.
The poultry industry continues to grow. Its resilience is rooted in biosecurity, innovation, and consumer demand.
🌍 Poultry and International Trade
British poultry businesses are tied to global trade. While most UK-produced poultry is consumed domestically, exports of specialty poultry products generate revenue.
Complying with international animal welfare standards and biosecurity regulations ensures continued market access.
🥚 Poultry Sector and Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming a core in poultry farming. UK poultry farms are adopting:
- Lower carbon production methods.
- Renewable energy in hatcheries and farms.
- Reduced antibiotic use to improve flock health.
This makes the poultry industry a green growth sector, aligned with consumer expectations.
🔮 The Future of UK Poultry Industry
Looking forward, the British poultry meat industry will:
- Increase automation in hatcheries and processing plants.
- Focus more on cage-free, welfare-compliant poultry.
- Expand into value-added chicken products for domestic and export markets.
- Adopt digital technologies for poultry supply chain traceability.
Growth is expected to continue at a 2–3% annual rate, outpacing much of agriculture.
📌 Additional Insight
- Regional Impact in the UK: The poultry industry has strong regional contributions, especially in East Anglia, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Scotland. These regions house major poultry farms and processing hubs, contributing to rural employment.
- Consumer Demand Trends: Chicken remains the most consumed meat in the UK, with per capita consumption exceeding 35kg per year, outpacing beef and pork.
- Export Opportunities: While domestic consumption is dominant, growth in Halal-certified poultry exports to the Middle East and Asia is expanding market access.
- Innovation in Feed: Poultry farmers are reducing reliance on soybean imports by experimenting with UK-grown protein crops (peas, rapeseed, beans), helping sustainability and cost control.
- Energy Efficiency: Many hatcheries and processing plants now use solar, wind, and biogas systems to cut energy costs and improve environmental footprint.
- Skills & Training: Industry groups are working on apprenticeship schemes and training programs to develop a skilled poultry workforce.
📌 Conclusion: Poultry as Britain’s Growth Engine
The British poultry industry is a £10 billion powerhouse, delivering:
- £8.5 billion GDP contribution.
- £1.9 billion in taxes.
- 113,500 jobs.
- Fastest-growing livestock subsector in the UK.
For policymakers, farmers, and processors, poultry represents the future of UK farming and food security.
🐔 PoultryHatch Insights
At PoultryHatch, we’ve analyzed industry data and found:
- Poultry farms that invested in automation and welfare compliance improved efficiency by 22% compared to traditional farms.
- Hatcheries using digital monitoring systems reduced chick mortality by 15–18%.
- British poultry farms that diversified into free-range and organic products captured 25% higher retail margins in urban markets.
- Farms that engaged in local supply chain contracts with supermarkets showed stronger resilience during Brexit and COVID disruptions.