Slow Grown Since 1994: Why We Still Do It Our Way

A lot has changed since 1994, when Charles Nash first started the business, but the principles behind how we rear our Slow Grown Chicken remain the same. As part of our 30-year anniversary celebrations, we wanted to create something that goes beyond the label — a video that truly shows what makes Sutton Hoo Chicken different.

Our new short film takes you behind the scenes at our farm on the banks of the River Deben in Suffolk, giving you a glimpse into the traditional, slow farming methods we’ve used since the beginning. In it, you’ll see how our chickens are reared with more time, more space, less stress, and the freedom to behave naturally — from foraging and dust-bathing to simply coming and going as they please.

Sunset over the farm

“We’re often asked what makes our chickens different — this video is our answer. It’s not marketing, it’s just how we farm. We’ve stuck to the same principles for 30 years because they work — for the birds, for the land, and for the people who care about where their food comes from.”
— Will Waterer, General Manager at Sutton Hoo Chicken

With no artificial lighting, no automatic feeding systems, and no background hum of machinery, our birds grow at their own pace in mobile sheds spread across 40 acres of pasture. These old-school methods may be seen as inefficient in modern farming terms, but they are central to what we believe in: healthy, happy birds and a better tasting chicken.

We made this video not only to celebrate how far we’ve come over the last three decades, but also to show — in the most real and honest way — why our chickens, and the way we rear them, are different.

We’d like to take this moment to thank all our loyal customers, independent retailers and brilliant butchers — your continued support is what keeps this way of farming alive.

You can watch the video below. We hope you enjoy it!