Crisp producer Fairfields Farm is celebrating 20 years of hand-cooked crisps this October. Over two decades, the family-run business has grown from a small producer to an established British brand with more than 80 awards to its name. Fairfields Farm’s crisps are now stocked throughout the UK, and they’ve even taken to the skies on various flights throughout the years including on board Ryanair flights. The family-run business is now looking to the future, with plans to expand its on-site factory and warehousing, alongside investment in its new on-site offices and customer-led flavour development.
Founded in October 2006 by husband-and-wife team Laura and Robert Strathern, Fairfields Farm brings three generations of family potato-growing expertise to every bag of its thick-cut crisps. Based on the family farm in Wormingford, near Colchester, the business grows its own potatoes, cooks, seasons and packs its crisps on site, having invested in a purpose-built production facility back in 2012. Today, its range features eight core flavours, complemented by a changing line-up of limited-edition specials.
From its first listing with East of England Co-op to making its entire flavour range vegan and gluten-free, Fairfields Farm has continued to evolve. Its online subscription boxes have also created a direct route from farm to customer, bringing farm-grown potatoes and hand-cooked crisps straight to people’s doors.
Looking ahead, Fairfields Farm is planning to expand its factory and warehousing facilities to support its next phase of growth. The business has also moved into new high-specification open-plan offices on-site, bringing teams together and creating opportunities for even more local employment and future growth. Sustainability remains central to the business, building on its use of renewable energy, on-farm water storage, and wildlife biodiversity surveys.
Consumer insight is also shaping the next chapter of the brand. Putting crisp fans at the heart of product development, Fairfields Farm launched its Secret Crisp Committee which attracted more than 1,000 applications in its first year. The committee helped develop Cajun Barbecue, the brand’s first ridge-cut crisp and summer 2026 limited edition. Feedback from this year’s panel will help shape an exciting new limited edition flavour for 2027.
From early recognition at the 2010 Best Essex Retail Product awards to more recent national accolades, Fairfields Farm’s commitment to quality continues to earn recognition. The brand picked up Gold for its Sea Salt & Aspall Cyder Vinegar and Cheese & Onion flavour and Silver for Bacon & Tomato flavour at the 2025 Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards, followed by further success at the 2026 Great British Food Awards, winning Gold for its 15kg Washed Potatoes and Silver for its Mixed Selection Crisp Boxes.
“Twenty years in, we are still growing potatoes and making crisps in our factory, and that’s what our retail and foodservice partners buy into,” said Commercial Director Tash Jones. “From our first listing with the East of England Co-op to crisps served at 35,000 feet on Ryanair flights, our journey has been driven by investment in both our farm and factory. We have already more than doubled our capacity in the last four years and we’re expecting to more than double it again in the next three! It's an exciting next chapter, and one that will help us continue growing alongside our customers.”
Robert and Laura, 2024Image: Fairfields Farm
Co-founder Robert Strathern added: “When Laura and I cooked our first batch in 2006, we wanted to do something different with the potatoes our families had grown for generations. Since then, building resilience into our business has been key to our success, including creating reservoirs to help irrigate our potato crops through hotter, drier summers and secure a good harvest.
Twenty years and more than 80 awards later, we’re still doing what we love. We’re incredibly proud of our brilliant team and grateful to our stockists and everyone who’s bought a bag along the way. Thank you for being part of our journey.”
Fairfields Farm’s crisps are available in 40g and 150g packs through East of England Co-op and Chelmsford Star stores, independent retailers, farm shops, pubs and cafés nationwide, as well as through the Fairfields Farm website.