Julia Lopez MP met local farmer and businesswoman, Tracy Mackness, at The Giggly Pig Co’s piggery in Hornchurch to hear about her bold plans to expand the business with a government grant.
Ms Mackness achieved national fame in 2013 with the publication of her memoirs, Jail Bird : The Life and Crimes Of An Essex Bad Girl, in which she recounts her journey from the UK's toughest prisons to owning her own pig farm in Havering. Established by Ms Mackness in 2007, The Giggly Pig Co is a farm-to-fork business providing high quality meat from rare-breed saddleback pigs for sale at their shop in Harold Hill and at a range of markets across Essex.
Ms Mackness started the business after learning pig husbandry at a prison farm during a period of custody. On leaving prison, she used her skills to set up The Giggly Pig Co, now a well-known business within the community with a range of award-winning products.
Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Mrs Lopez, is backing Ms Mackness' plans to grow the business with the installation of an on-site butchery unit by writing in support of her application for grant funding to the Government’s Farm Transformation Fund (FTF). The FTF provides grants to improve productivity, animal health and welfare and bring environmental benefits. Mrs Lopez wrote to both the Farming Minister and the Rural Payments Agency to highlight the transformative effect the funding would have on the local business, supporting a move to online direct sales, the recruitment of extra staff and the reduction of food miles.
With a decision due soon, Mrs Lopez hopes that the Hornchurch entrepreneur will be able to take her local company from strength to strength.
Commenting after the visit, the Hornchurch MP said:
‘Tracy's tale is totally unique and it was inspiring to hear how she used her time in prison to turn her life around. She has put blood, sweat and tears into growing the Giggly Pig farm and business. Her products are award-winning and I have seen them on sale not just locally in Petersfield Avenue but in farmers' markets as far afield as Saffron Walden. I was glad that she got in touch about the government grant to transform her farm as the money is designed to take businesses like hers to the next level and improve the quality and productivity of British farms. I know a lot of residents would love to source food as locally as they possibly can'.
Tracy Mackness, Founder of The Giggly Pig Co, said:
‘It has always been my dream to have everything under one umbrella so we can emphasise on the whole farm-to-fork experience, where people can actually see how we produce our award-winning products. I am grateful for Julia’s support to help turn this dream into reality.’
