Country Lane Foods said the investment has safeguarded jobs, created new full-time roles, secured new customer contracts and set it up for national growth.
A £200,000 grant from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub Grants Programme, part of the Good Growth Programme, which delivers the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, enabled the company to fund the new machinery.
The family-run business was operating at full capacity and facing decisions on whether to outsource operations to other UK areas. But the new backing has meant that Country Lane Foods has been able to retain its workforce in Liskeard while creating five new full-time jobs across operations, logistics, and quality control.
The company revealed that there would be more knock-on impacts of the new machine.
It will enable it to strengthen relationships with regional farmers, ensuring fair pricing and long-term viability. It also means there will be a reduced reliance on imported eggs, supporting domestic production and supply chain resilience.
Country Lane Foods owner Scott Lapthorne said: “At application stage, we were at a crossroads. We were operating at maximum capacity and considering outsourcing all operations. Thanks to the grant, we’ve been able to invest in a key asset that allows us to stay in Cornwall, grow and provide real living wage employment to our team.”
He added: “This project has given us the stability to grow, the tools to innovate, and the confidence to compete nationally. We’re proud to be building a future that supports our team, our farmers, and our community.”
The new egg grading machine has doubled the company’s processing capacity, enabling it to meet surging demand driven by the retail sector’s shift to cage-free eggs. The new machine introduces a suite of advanced features that modernise operations and enhance product quality through automation, real-time farm data analytics, feedback loops with producers, improved waste management and precision tracking to support sustainability goals.
“It’s fantastic to see how this grant has helped Country Lane Foods take a big step forward,” said Kirsty Miles-Musgrave from the Growth Hub.
“This project is a great example of how the Growth Hub, through the Good Growth Programme, is helping to deliver real, lasting impact across Cornwall—boosting local jobs, innovation, and resilience in our rural economy.”
