Growing with Purpose
Investing in Sustainability, Animal Welfare, and Resilient Organic Food Production Despite Mounting Industry Challenges
For more than three decades, Inglewood Farms has built its reputation on the belief that producing premium organic poultry begins long before a chicken reaches the dinner table. It starts with healthy soils, carefully grown certified organic grain, strong family values and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way, even when that path is more demanding.
Over the past year, that philosophy has continued to guide one of Australia’s leading organic poultry producers through an environment marked by rising costs, tightening supply chains and increasingly unpredictable weather. Rather than standing still, the family-owned business has continued investing in its operations, improving its production facilities and preparing for growing consumer demand while staying true to the principles that have defined the company since its beginnings.
Today, with thirteen family members working across the enterprise alongside around 200 employees, Inglewood Farms remains firmly focused on producing premium certified organic poultry while creating a business capable of serving future generations. It is a story of resilience, continual improvement and long-term thinking that stretches from the health of the soil beneath its feet to the wellbeing of the communities it proudly serves.
Building Better Every Day
Success in agriculture is rarely measured by one standout achievement. Instead, it comes from consistently improving every aspect of the operation, season after season, year after year. That mindset has shaped Inglewood Farms’ priorities throughout the past twelve months.
Rather than pursuing dramatic change for its own sake, the business has concentrated on strengthening the foundations that support both animal welfare and production efficiency. Investments have focused heavily on upgrading poultry sheds and improving the environments where the chickens are raised.
“We’ve been investing in upgrading and improving our sheds and the environment for the chickens,” Katrina Hobbs, Managing Director, explains.
Those investments reflect the company’s long-held philosophy that healthy animals produce better outcomes throughout the entire supply chain. By continually refining housing conditions and production systems, Inglewood Farms is ensuring it can maintain the quality standards customers have come to expect while preparing for future growth.
That commitment to continual improvement has become increasingly important as demand for certified organic poultry continues to expand across Australia. Consumers are becoming more selective about where their food comes from, and Inglewood Farms has seen that shift translate into sustained growth within its existing markets.
Rather than chasing entirely new customer segments, the company has focused on serving an expanding base of consumers who increasingly prioritise healthier food choices and transparency in food production.
“We’ve probably seen a lot of growth and expansion for our business in the existing market,” Hobbs says.
“There is an increasing number of health-conscious people in the marketplace, and so when it comes to making food choices, there’s an increased demand because people are looking for healthier options,” Hobbs relays.
That growing awareness of nutrition, food quality, and sustainable farming practices has reinforced the company’s confidence in its long-term direction.
Responding to Changing Consumer Preferences
Consumer expectations continue to evolve, and Inglewood Farms has adapted alongside them without compromising its core values.
While the business remains firmly committed to producing fresh premium poultry, changing lifestyles have altered the way many Australians prepare meals at home. Time-poor households increasingly seek products that reduce preparation time while maintaining quality.
Rather than moving into heavily processed foods, Inglewood Farms has responded by expanding its range of convenient fresh poultry options.
“We’re still doing mainly fresh product,” Hobbs explains.
“We’re selling an increasing number of strips and cut portions as compared to a whole chicken.”
The trend represents a noticeable shift in purchasing behaviour.
“There has been a move away from the whole roasted chicken and a growing move towards products that are cut up and easy to prepare in a meal,” Hobbs says.
The evolution of the product range illustrates the company’s practical approach to innovation. Rather than following every food trend, Inglewood Farms carefully adapts where customer demand aligns with its commitment to premium organic production.
This measured strategy enables the business to remain relevant in a changing marketplace while protecting the integrity of its brand.
Meeting the Challenges of Modern Farming
Despite positive market conditions, agriculture remains an industry where success is never guaranteed.
For Inglewood Farms, one of the most persistent challenges continues to be managing rising operating costs while maintaining consistent production.
“I think rising costs are always a challenge,” Hobbs says.
“Farming by nature has a lot of challenges… production is key, and good production is key to being able to be successful.”
Whether those pressures come from supply chain disruptions, higher input costs or the unpredictable realities of farming, maintaining momentum requires constant attention.
“When you’ve got pressures on supply chain or costs or production pressures, it becomes a loud noise that needs resolving,” she explains.
Unlike many industries, agriculture cannot simply pause while problems are solved. Every season brings new variables, making adaptability one of the business’s greatest strengths.
For Inglewood Farms, remaining vertically integrated has helped provide greater control across many parts of the production process. However, it also means the family carries significant responsibility for multiple stages of the supply chain.
That level of integration demands careful planning and ongoing investment, particularly as the business continues to grow.
Technology with a Practical Mindset
Technology is transforming agriculture around the world, yet for specialist organic producers, adopting the latest innovations is often more complicated than simply purchasing new equipment.
As a family-owned business operating within a relatively niche market, Inglewood Farms carefully evaluates every technological investment.
“It’s definitely something that we talk about and look at all the time,” Hobbs says.
“One of the challenges of technology is the cost and the critical mass required to be able to afford that technology.”
Although Inglewood Farms is recognised as one of Australia’s largest organic poultry businesses, Katrina acknowledges that the business remains comparatively small when viewed against the broader poultry industry.
“We’re only very small,” she says.
That reality means major investments must be approached strategically.
“You’ve got to crawl before you walk.”
Rather than chasing expensive automation for its own sake, the company focuses on implementing improvements that deliver genuine value while supporting sustainable long-term growth.
It is a cautious yet confident philosophy that has allowed Inglewood Farms to continue evolving without compromising financial stability.
Sustainability Beyond the Buzzword
For Inglewood Farms, sustainability is far more than a marketing concept. It is woven into everyday farming practices and forms an essential part of how the business manages its land for future generations.
The company has invested heavily in water management systems designed to maximise every available resource while reducing waste.
At the same time, it has developed farming practices that create a circular production system, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.
“We’ve got a system where we’re utilising our waste on the farm,” Hobbs explains.
“We’re composting the waste from the farm and then turning that into our soil to create crops that are then feeding the chickens for the next season.”
That regenerative approach not only reduces waste but also improves soil health, helping the farm become more resilient during increasingly dry conditions.
As Australia’s climate becomes more variable, healthier soils capable of retaining moisture are becoming an increasingly valuable asset.
“We are increasing the carbon in our soil and the health of our soil,” Hobbs says.
“We can secure our crops in a drier environment.”
These practical sustainability initiatives demonstrate how environmental stewardship and commercial success can work hand in hand when supported by long-term thinking.
Family at the Heart of the Business
Perhaps the greatest strength of Inglewood Farms lies not in its production systems or infrastructure, but in the people who continue to shape its future.
Over the past year, the family workforce has grown from eleven to thirteen members, with multiple generations continuing to work alongside approximately 200 employees across the wider organisation.
Far from viewing family involvement as a complication, Hobbs believes it provides one of the company’s greatest advantages.
“A lot of people would wrongly advise not to work with family.”
“I find that working with family is a great joy,” she says.
While acknowledging that every relationship brings its own challenges, she believes shared purpose creates an environment where people understand each other’s strengths and support one another through inevitable difficulties.
“Relationships matter, and people matter.”
“What better business format to grow and expand than to have one that you’re doing with family, whom you know very, very well?”
That philosophy extends well beyond family members.
Katrina believes every employee performs best when allowed to work in a role that matches their natural talents and abilities.
“Making sure every person is actually in their sweet spot has been key.”
“When you have people placed where they can flourish and do well, the business in turn goes well as a result.”
It is a people-first leadership philosophy that continues to shape both the culture and long-term success of Inglewood Farms.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
The outlook for Inglewood Farms remains one of quiet confidence rather than uncertainty.
The company continues to see strong consumer demand for premium organic poultry. It continues investing in infrastructure. It continues refining production systems while strengthening environmental stewardship. Most importantly, it continues doing so without losing sight of the family values that have underpinned its success for generations.
Rather than pursuing rapid expansion at any cost, Inglewood Farms is choosing a measured path built on resilience, quality and continuous improvement.
That approach reflects a business that understands sustainable growth is achieved not through shortcuts, but through thousands of carefully considered decisions made season after season.
For Inglewood Farms, the future is not simply about producing more poultry. It is about nurturing healthier soils, healthier animals, healthier communities, and a stronger agricultural legacy that future generations can proudly continue.
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AT A GLANCE
Who: Inglewood Farms
What: One of Australia’s leading family-owned certified organic poultry producers, committed to sustainable farming, premium animal welfare and supplying high-quality organic chicken products.
Where: Inglewood, Queensland, Australia.
Website: www.inglewoodfarms.com.au
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