Martin Pitt, founder of free-range industry, dies

Martin Pitt, one of the founders of the modern free-range egg industry, has died, reports the Scottish Egg Producer Retailers’ Association.

Mr Pitt started his free-range business 40 years ago and marketed his eggs in and around London through 200 shops and restaurants, including Harrods. He also produced mayonnaise and cheese from the milk of his 400 ewes, for sale in three national supermarkets.

Mr Pitt won a Nuffield scholarship in 1981 to study the production and marketing of non-cage eggs, a project that took him to seven European countries.

He won many awards for his work in the industry and was the founder of the Free Range Egg Association.