EGG FOCUS
Breakfast of Not only do poached eggs come in different sizes… but the yolk can also be tailor-made for a different consistency and mouthfeel. Well, at Just Egg they can! sandwich fillings before becoming a director. Up next was my own company, Deli Fresh, working with Sainsbury’s and developing fillings and chutneys within the famous ‘Taste the Difference’ brand.”
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH If there’s one man ideally placed to take advantage of the growing egg market, it’s the founder of Just Egg, Pankaj Pancholi. Government figures up to Q4 2024 show that UK production volumes increased by 4.2% from 2023, with 254 million dozen produced for human consumption – an annual jump of 4.2%. And supermarkets are reporting strong numbers on ‘egg protein pots’, tying in with consumer demand for healthier lunchtime daypart options. So, Pancholi’s goal of driving his pre-packed poached egg offering is perfectly timed, with major ambitions across foodservice and retail. “I have a degree in microbiology and started out as a lab technician, originally at Walker’s Crisps,” said Pancholi. “I then became a microbiologist at a well-known soup company, before graduating to quality assurance manager at FreshPak. I then specialised in hard-boiled eggs. “In 14 happy years, I helped grow the company and even devised
IN GREAT SHAPE All roads led to Just Egg in 2003. A purpose-built site was created in six months, so Pancholi could combine his scientific expertise and manufacturing experience. He imported a machine from Germany and took production in a different direction. “I tried something new with hard-boiled egg packaging. Usually, thousands of plastic buckets were used that couldn’t be claimed back or recycled, also leading to contamination problems. I simplified things with a quality, sealed bag in a cardboard box. It was revolutionary and is common practice today. “A friend who used to work for Eat, later bought by Pret, was importing poached eggs from France but wasn’t happy – he encouraged me to give it a go. With investment, I came up with machinery and, after six months, we emerged with a poached egg product.” There was an original burger shape but he was able to go further, with a standard oval design. Once the Pret deal went through, Pancholi had to rethink his plans and venture out on his own. Fast-forward to 2020 – and Covid! “It’s been a hell of a journey but we are in a great place now. Not only do we offer two different shapes but can
actually dictate the type of poached egg. For example, there is a scotch egg business that prefers a runny yolk for a different mouthfeel. Because we batch process rather than utilise a continuous production line, we exert more control, and this level of expertise is unique in the UK.” All boxes are ticked at Just Egg, with the Lion brand and free-range guarantee, produced in a 2500 sq ft factory. And food safety is a given, with Pancholi’s two sons – Nishal and Sagar – valuable members of the business as an electronics engineer and technical manager, respectively. An ongoing partnership with Subway and various other wholesalers, caterers, bars and restaurants are testament to Just Egg’s success. “Our poached eggs are special – in just three minutes. They can even be microwaved. Everyone manufactures in different ways but ours are exceptional. And we have a fantastic opportunity to grow across retail and all foodservice sectors.”
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06/03/2025 13:37