The Co Fermanagh group behind two of the north’s biggest egg operations is now among the most profitable businesses in the region.
Lough Erne Investments, the parent company of the Lisnaskea-based Ready Egg Products and Co Tyrone’s Skea Eggs, has reported a pre-tax profit of £22.8 million for its latest trading year following a 50% surge in revenue and profit last year.
It puts Charles Crawford’s egg group among the north’s top 25 most profitable companies.
Founded in 1975 by Mr Crawford, Ready Egg Products has grown into the largest egg processor in the UK and Ireland, supplying major supermarkets and food groups.
Most of its products end up in the food manufacturing industry in Britain, where its clients include McDonalds and M&S.
The Ready Egg headquarters in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, and (inset), Charles Crawford.
The business significantly expanded its interests in the spring of 2022 by acquiring the Donaghmore-based Skea Eggs.
Founded in the 1970s by Matthew Hayes, Skea supplies around 9.5 million eggs per week to major supermarket chains including M&S and Sainsbury’s.
The continued growth of Lough Erne Investment’s interests saw the group record £302.4m in revenue for the year-ended September 30 2025, an increase of £101.4m on 2024.
While the 2024 trading period only covers nine months, the 2025 performance is nevertheless significantly up on the £233m the Lough Erne business generated in the 2023 trading year and the £174.7m it recorded for 2022.
The 2022 Skea deal effectively doubled Lough Erne’s workforce to more than 300.
The latest set of annual accounts published by Companies House show the group continued to recruit last year, with its headcount rising to 337, up from 309.
The additional staff took total staff costs to £12.5m.
Meanwhile, the new annual accounts show Lough Erne Investments paid a £6m tax bill last year.
It ultimately left Mr Crawford’s group with a bottom-line profit of £16.76m for 2025.
The group’s revenue looks set to continue on the growth trajectory in 2026 following a significant investment announced last October.
Ready Egg founder Charles Crawford with (from left) Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI; economy minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald; and Jenna Crawford, Ready Egg HR and compliance manager
Backed by £500,000 grant aid from Invest NI, the company said the £2.9m investment in automation will seek to boost productivity and accelerate sales growth.
Invest NI said it has the potential to boost the company’s productivity by up to 50%, transform its capacity and modernise its processes through digitalisation.
Speaking at the time, Charles Crawford said: “This exciting investment in robotics and automation will transform our business and improve productivity across a number of key operational areas.
“This investment also underlines our commitment to sustainability by increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste.”