ABOUT US
Johnson & Swarbrick, established in 1985, are the UK’s foremost poultry producer. A family owned and operated business, who’s motto is ‘a happy bird is a tasty bird’. Their famous cornfed Goosnargh chicken and duck is supplied to the finest chefs around the country including Nigel Howarth of Northcote Manor, Mark Hix of Hix Restaurants, Chris and Jeff Galvin of Galvin Restaurants and Sydney Aldridge of Fortnum and Mason; confirming the quality of the poultry is second to none.
HISTORY
Reg, ‘the poultry legend’ certainly put his home village of Goosnargh, Lancashire on the map. It all started in 1987 when he met a young chef called Paul Heathcote who had just come out of the London scene, moved back up north and was looking for an English cornfed chicken. Reg took up this challenge. With much time and work invested, he finally came up with the Goosnargh corn-fed chicken, becoming the famous product it is today and setting the benchmark in the industry. Paul was then joined by Nigel Howarth on the tasting panel as Reg continued to explore how to grow the poultry business.
IN MEMORY OF REG
Reg Johnson, was loved by all who knew him, and still is. Described as a true gentlemen;
a friend to whoever he met, sadly passed away in November 2015. An industry icon, Reg held the respect and
friendship of the great and good. He is sincerely missed by many. The legacy of this true Lancashire’s
food hero lives on through his poultry leaving behind his motto ‘A happy bird is a tasty bird’.
BUD
Bud Swarbrick has been working on the farm since he was a boy. Back then the farm held 20,000 hens and 100 strong herd of dairy cows. When the herd was sold Bud joined forces with his brother Reg on the poultry side of the business. As director of J&S Bud’s role is controlling the growth and direction of the business as well as looking after the birds.
MEET THE TEAM
KARA
When Reg Johnson, Kara’s father would ask ‘Are you going to work on the farm when you leave school’ her answer was always NO! After after leaving college in 2003 Kara couldn’t deny her roots and joined the family business. As the saying goes the rest is history. Kara runs the sales office and the administration of the business.
ADAM
Adam, just like his dad Bud, started from a young age at the farm working weekends whilst he was at school. Once Adam left school he joined the family business full-time and has never looked back, following in his father and uncle’s footsteps. Adam’s main role is developing and controlling the systems and procedures at J&S.
PROCESS FEED / REARING
At J&S we’re passionate about our produce. What makes us different is the way we rear our birds the rearing and
feed process. With our own mixing plant, running 5 days a week, we know exactly what we’re feeding our birds.
We feed them what’s good for them.
No genetic modifications – No growth promoters, no antibiotics or any other additives included.
We have created own unique recipe promoting slow growth. The birds all arrive to the farm at one day old. They are put into
nursery sheds that are heated to the specified temperature for 21-28 days. At this stage they are moved to the adult sheds
which are open, spacious, well aired with plenty of room to run freely. They are bedded daily with fresh barley straw and
miscanthus (a revolutionary biomass crop), this is grown on our own land within a 3 mile radius of the farm.
WHERE WE ARE
Swainson House Farm is situated at the edge of the Ribble Valley in the picturesque village of Goosnargh which is in the heart of the Lancashire countryside and close to the City of Preston.
