Cherry Valley Farms Ltd

What Cherry Valley Farms Ltd does

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd, founded in 1959 by Sir Joseph Nickerson and headquartered in Humberston, United Kingdom, is the world's leading breeder of Pekin ducks, operating a multi-tier breeding pyramid (Great Grandparent, Grandparent, and Parent Stock) that supplies hatching eggs and day-old ducklings to commercial duck meat producers globally. Its proprietary SM3 Pekin Duck line is positioned as the world's most efficient Pekin duck, with documented commercial performance of 3.52 kg liveweight at 40 days, a 1.75 feed conversion ratio, 23.9% breast fillet yield, and parent stock producing 296 eggs in a 50-week lay cycle at 93% average fertility. Genetic improvement is supported by 40+ years of R&D, automated individual-bird feed conversion tracking since 2008, and genomic pedigree identification deployed across the selection program since 2019.

The company operates through a combination of direct international sales and joint-venture production: a wholly-owned German subsidiary (Cherry Valley Farms GmbH) established in Karlsdorf in 2007, the Shandong Cherry Valley joint venture in China (entered 2003, where approximately 70% of the world's ducks are produced), and the Cherry Valley Haid JV in Vietnam (entered 2016, the world's second-largest duck market and now housing over 500,000 breeding ducks). On May 9, 2025, Cherry Valley opened the world's largest duck breeder hatchery in Shandong with 69 setters of 34,560-egg capacity each, consolidating Chinese parent-stock hatching operations. Revenue is generated through one-time sale of breeding stock at successive pyramid levels, complemented by paid technical support services (management guides, production records, site visits). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and customers are large enterprise duck integrators reached via dedicated international sales, regional sales agents (e.g., Otto Baling in Hungary), and joint-venture channels, with named customers including Luv-a-Duck (Australia), CPF (Thailand), and Ei Farming (Vietnam).

Name

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd

Legal name

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd

Website

https://cherryvalley.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd is a UK-based, 65-year-old duck genetics company that breeds and supplies proprietary SM3 Pekin duck breeding stock (eggs and day-old ducklings) to commercial duck meat producers worldwide, supported by production bases and JVs in China, Germany, and Vietnam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Poultry Breeding & Genetics

NAICS

Poultry and Egg Production (1123), Poultry Hatcheries (112340)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Duck & Goose Production (Waterfowl) (AFAEADAG)

Keywords

• Pekin duck breeding
• Duck genetics
• Poultry breeding stock
• Hatching egg supply
• Waterfowl genetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Humberston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Breeding Stock Sales: Cherry Valley generates revenue through the sale of Pekin duck breeding stock at various levels: Great Grandparent (GGP) eggs, Grandparent (GP) eggs, Parent Stock (PS) eggs, and day-old ducks. They supply eggs and day-old ducks worldwide to their loyal customers.
2. Technical Support Services: The company provides world-class technical support for all customers, including management guides, production records, and site visits. This supports customers to maximise genetic potential and profitability.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd breeds and supplies proprietary Pekin duck (SM3) breeding stock to commercial duck meat producers worldwide. The company sells Great Grandparent (GGP) eggs, Grandparent (GP) eggs, Parent Stock (PS) eggs, and day-old ducklings, supported by technical advisory services covering rearing, hatchery, and production management.

Product overview

Cherry Valley Farms Ltd is a specialized duck genetics and breeding company offering a portfolio of products centered on the Cherry Valley SM3 Pekin Duck, recognized as the world's most efficient Pekin Duck. The product line includes parent stock ducks with superior breeding performance (3.36 kg mature weight, 296 eggs per 50-week lay, 93% fertility) and commercial slaughter stock (3.52 kg at 40 days, 1.75 feed efficiency, 23.9% breast fillet yield). The company supplies hatching eggs and day-old ducklings globally, complemented by technical support services including management guides, production records, and site visits to help customers maximize genetic potential and profitability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SM3 Pekin Duck: The Cherry Valley SM3 is known as the World's most efficient Pekin Duck, renowned for both growing performance and superior breeding performance. Features include mature liveweight of 3.36 kg for females, 296 eggs in 50-week lay cycle, 93% average fertility, 3.52 kg liveweight at 40 days, feed efficiency of 1.75, and 23.9% breast fillet at 40 days.

Products and services

• Cherry Valley SM3 Pekin Duck (Parent Stock) Parent stock breeding ducks designed for commercial multiplication; mature female liveweight 3.36 kg, 296 eggs in a 50-week laying cycle, 93% average fertility. Sold to commercial duck meat producers and parent stock multipliers worldwide.
• Cherry Valley SM3 Pekin Duck (Commercial Slaughter Stock) Commercial Pekin ducks bred for meat production; 3.52 kg liveweight at 40 days, 1.75 feed conversion ratio at 40 days, 23.9% breast fillet yield at 40 days.
• Hatching Eggs Great Grandparent, Grandparent, and Parent Stock hatching eggs supplied to duck meat producers and parent stock producers worldwide.
• Day-Old Ducklings Day-old ducklings supplied to commercial duck producers worldwide, backed by Cherry Valley's world-class technical support.
• Technical Support Services Advisory services provided to parent stock and commercial customers covering duck breeding, rearing, hatchery practice, production management, and genetic program support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.52 kg liveweight at 40 days with 1.75 feed conversion ratio
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UK Embassy in ThailandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2025UK Embassy in Thailand partnered with Cherry Valley for VIV Asia 2025, featuring the UK Pavilion with 10 pioneering UK Agri-tech companies. The embassy helped facilitate discussions with embassies in surrounding countries.
• Luv-a-DuckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Luv-a-Duck is Australia's leading duck producer. Cherry Valley works with them to organize imports of GGP (Great Grandparent) eggs into Australia. Cherry Valley provides SM3 genetics and a selection/regeneration program to maintain genetic diversity while retaining superior performance. This is a long-term relationship enabling Luv-a-Duck to supply the latest generation of Cherry Valley SM3 birds.
• UK Agri-tech CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCherry Valley joined the UK Pavilion exhibition at VIV Asia 2025 featuring 10 pioneering UK Agri-tech companies.
• CPF (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPF (Charoen Pokphand Foods) is a major customer in Thailand. Cherry Valley representatives met with CPF customers at VIV Asia 2025.
• Ei FarmingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnam-based agricultural management partner. Cherry Valley met with Ei Farming managers at VIV Asia 2025 for lunch meeting.
• Crowshall Veterinary ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a linked partner on Cherry Valley's website, suggesting a working relationship for veterinary expertise.
• Otto BalingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOtto Baling serves as CVF Sales Agent for Hungarian customers, providing local sales representation for Cherry Valley in Hungary.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grimaud (Orvia): French-headquartered multi-species animal genetics group (now operating under Orvia) historically one of the principal waterfowl and duck breeding competitors to Cherry Valley globally; directly comparable as a Pekin/waterfowl genetics supplier serving duck meat producers.
• Hendrix Genetics: Global multi-species breeding company with a waterfowl/duck genetics program alongside layers, turkeys, swine, and aquaculture; competes directly with Cherry Valley in supplying duck breeding stock to commercial producers worldwide.

Broad incumbents

• Aviagen: World's leading poultry breeding company (broilers and turkeys) under similar breeding-stock and genetic-improvement business model; provides a scale and technology benchmark for Cherry Valley's poultry genetics operations, though focused on chickens/turkeys rather than Pekin ducks.
• Cobb-Vantress: Major global broiler breeding company operating a similar genetics-and-distribution model (GGP/GP/PS pyramid) and grandparent-stock distribution channels; relevant incumbent comparable for Cherry Valley's breeding stock business even though not duck-focused.
• Hubbard: Poultry breeding company (broilers, layers, alternative breeds) with comparable grandparent/parent stock distribution mechanics; broader incumbent in animal genetics with overlapping customer type of integrated meat producers.

Regional players

• Maple Leaf Farms: Largest duck meat producer in North America operating a vertically integrated model; serves the same downstream duck genetics customer base as Cherry Valley in a different geography, illustrating the customer model CVF supplies.
• Pepe's Ducks: Leading Australian duck processor and value-added duck products company comparable to other downstream Cherry Valley customers (e.g., Luv-a-Duck); illustrates the Australian end-market for Cherry Valley genetics.

Emerging players

• Metzer Farms: US-based waterfowl and gamebird hatchery operating a smaller-scale duck and goose genetics and day-old-bird business; partial overlap with Cherry Valley in waterfowl breeding though at much smaller scale and geographically distinct.
• Guangdong Nongke (Chinese duck breeding entities): Domestic Chinese duck breeding programs in Guangdong and Shandong competing for share of the 70%-of-world-ducks Chinese market; relevant emerging competitor given Cherry Valley's reliance on the China JV and the presence of locally developed breeds.

Others

• Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): Thailand-based global agri-food giant and integrated poultry/duck producer with which Cherry Valley engages at industry events; an adjacent ecosystem participant representing the large integrated duck customer base Cherry Valley targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cherryvalleyfarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cherry-valley-farms
• Xx.com/cherryvalleyuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cherry Valley Farms Ltd