The director presents the strategic report for the year ended 31 January 2023.
These accounts consolidate the results for F and N One Limited and the subsidiaries, F and N Holdings Limited, Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited and Balingour Limited. The parent company does not trade and there have been no transactions in the period. F and N Holdings Limited receives income from a variety of sources, such as rent, deposit interest and other investment income. The groups income and profit is derived principally from the activities of Balingour Limited and Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited whose activities are respectively poultry rearing and poultry processing. All product of the former is sold to the latter at market price.
The results for the year ended 31 January 2023 are set out on page 9. These show an increase in turnover from £61,705,614 to £75,694,359, principally due to the main trading subsidiary company achieving an increased selling price during the year. The gross profit percentage has fallen from 15% to 13.7%, the decrease being attributable to a number of factors such as increased live bird price, plus some increased labour costs.
The poultry market is subject to sudden changes in market price caused by shortage or oversupply of birds, availability and price of foreign imports and customer demand and these are difficult to predict. Due to recent events in Ukraine, we are particularly affected by the fluctuating grain and energy prices. As a result, the poultry market remains competitive and forward planning remains challenging. With these risks and uncertainties in mind, we are aware that plans for the future development of the group may be subject to unforeseen events outside our control.
The directors continue to monitor the performance of the company's, their employees, customers and suppliers and to take action when that performance fails to meet up to expectations.
The key performance indicators are:
31st January 2023 31st January 2022
Turnover £75,694,359 £61,705,614
Gross profit as a % of turnover 13.7% 15%
Profit before tax £2,664,646 £4,128,928
A director of a company must act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefits of its members as a whole, and in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to factors (a) to (f).
(a) the likely consequences of any decision in the long term,
(b) the interests of the company's employees,
(c) the need to foster the company's business relationships with suppliers, customers and others,
(d) the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment,
(e) the desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct, and
(f) the need to act fairly as between members of the company.
This is ultimately a family owned company with no exterior members, directors or investors. The aim of the director is to continue to operate a successful business ultimately for the benefit of the Bird family.
The group provides employment for 219 people in various roles in the two subsidiary trading companies, including many long term staff with a wealth of experience. The directors recognise the importance of providing adequate training and a safe working environment.
These companies have built long standing relationships with a number of suppliers over many years and work closely with these, notably the chicken growers, all of which are UK based.
The poultry processor company, Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited has many long standing customers with whom they have traded for many years.
The directors of both companies are aware of the potential impact on the local community and have made every effort to minimise this.
The trading companies' operations are subject to numerous regulations regarding all aspects of their operations and specifically have annual audits which ensure compliance with the BRC (British Retail Consortium) and Red Tractor food safety standards.
On behalf of the board
The director presents his annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2023.
The results for the year are set out on page 9.
No ordinary dividends were paid. The director does not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The director who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
Waters and Atkinson are deemed to be re-appointed under the section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
We are obliged to report UK energy consumption in accordance with the Companies (Directors' Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018.
We have followed the 2019 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. We have also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2021 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.
The chosen intensity measurement ratio is Tonnes of CO2e per total £m sales revenue.
Continual investment in processing and infrastructure that has delivered greater energy efficiency in the business.
We have audited the financial statements of F and N One Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 January 2023 which comprise the group statement of income and retained earnings, the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of cash flows, the company statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the director with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The director is responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the strategic report and the director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the strategic report and the director's report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the director's report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the director's responsibilities statement, the director is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the director determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the director is responsible for assessing the parent company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the director either intends to liquidate the parent company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:
-the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance;
-results of our inquiries of management and assessment of the risks of irregularities;
-any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the company's documentation of their policies and procedures relating to:
-identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether management were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
-detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether management have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud;
-the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations and
-the matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:
-Posting of unusual journals and complex transactions
In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. We considered the following areas:
-UK Companies Act
-Tax legislation
-Latest BRC (British Retail Consortium) audit
- Reviewing any potential Avian Infuenza Prevention Zones
As a result of performing the above, we did not identify any key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud.
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
-reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;
-performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;
-in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we assessed whether the judgements made in making the accounting estimates are indicative of potential bias, and evaluated the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business;
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £0 (2022 - £0 profit).
F and N One Limited is a private company, limited by shares, registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page.
The group consists of F and N One Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company F and N One Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.
All financial statements are made up to 31 January 2023. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
The company has taken advantage of exemption, under the terms of Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', not to disclose related party transactions with wholly owned subsidiaries within the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the director has a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the director continues to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.
Interests in subsidiaries are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in profit or loss.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
The unlisted investments and loan included in current asset investments are basic financial instruments shown at cost.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
Included in cost of land and buildings is freehold land of £1,709,742 which is not depreciated.
The leasehold property is rented by Balingour Limited from F and N Holdings Limited on renewable yearly leases. If the lease was terminated, Balingour Limited would be entitled to compensation determined by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, the Agriculture Act 1986 and any regulations for the calculation of the compensation being in force at the time. The likelihood of termination of the lease is however remote and therefore the leasehold property is being written off over its estimated useful life rather than over the period of the lease.
Plant and Machinery includes poultry processing plant purchased over twenty five years ago. This plant continues to be maintained in such a state of repair that any further provision for depreciation is not currently required. The net book value of this machinery is £120,000.
Included in freehold property are several residential properties with a total cost value of £946,191 on which no depreciation has been taken on the grounds that any depreciation charge and accumulated depreciation would be immaterial. The company intends to maintain and repair the properties to ensure impairment of these assets is unlikely.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 January 2023 are as follows:
The bank overdraft is a reconciled balance, after accounting for unpresented cheques. Funds are transferred from a deposit account as and when required so that there is no actual overdraft at anytime.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
The deferred tax provision relates to capital allowances in excess of depreciation.
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
The directors current account is included within other debtors and relates to Frank Bird. During the year, this account was overdrawn to a maximum of £644,857 and interest was paid at the official rate.
Included in other debtors are amounts owed from companies of which Mr F Bird is the controlling party, namely:
F and N Properties Limited £89,779 (2022 £77,509)
F and N Two £337,962 (2022 £336,179)
F and N Three - Credit balance £53,039 (2022 £6,179)
These balances arose as a result of payments made by Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited on behalf of the above.
A total of £7,315 (2022 £13,508) relating to sundry expenses was recharged to Paul Bird Motorsport Limited during the year via the sales ledger account and at the year end, the balance on the account was £182,013 (2022 £174,698).
Barclays Bank hold a £700,000 guarantee from Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited against the Paul Bird Motorsport Limited bank account and also retain a charge over the company's credit balances as an additional form of security.
Paul Bird, who was Frank Bird's son, was director and sole shareholder of Paul Bird Motorsport Limited.
F and N Holdings Limited allows the company Paul Bird Motorsports Limited to use a workshop within its premises rent free. Paul Bird was the sole director and shareholder of this company and he was the son of Frank Bird, sole director of F and N Holdings.
The loan shown in note 17 has been made to F and N Guernsey Limited, a company ultimately controlled by Frank Bird. This is likely to be a long term loan although it is repayable on demand in certain circumstances such as non payment of interest. Interest is payable at 2% over base rate. F and N Holdings have a charge over a property owned by F and N Guernsey Limited as security.
The loan shown in note 19 has been made by F and N Properties Limited, a company controlled by Frank Bird, to this company. No interest has been paid and the loan is repayable on demand.
F and N One Limited and the group are controlled by the Frank and Isabel Bird No. 1 Joint Settlement. This Trust is controlled by Frank Bird.