AN Ayrshire-based egg producer has become the first in Scotland to win

accreditation under the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme. Scotlay Farm Eggs

of Riverside Farm near Alloway specialises in free-range eggs, which

command a premium price.

Former Scottish rugby internationalist Quintin Dunlop heads the

Scotlay operation which, in the wake of the Edwina Currie salmonella

scare, had to undergo a virtual re-launch as its traditional market

evaporated.

Aware of growing concerns about animal welfare, the company has

concentrated its efforts on a free-range system which, to retain the

RSPCA recognition, has to guarantee the hens freedom from fear,

distress, pain, injury and disease. They must be kept well fed and

watered, comfortable and given freedom to behave normally.

Scotlay used to be a supplier to Homestead Eggs. It was a simple

business, Mr Dunlop recalled. He produced the eggs and a lorry made

regular calls to collect them. The rest was up to Homestead, which was a

major distributor.

After the Edwina Currie scare Homestead became part of a distribution

set-up based in Fife, leaving Scotlay, on the other side of the country,

feeling somewhat vulnerable.

It was at this point that Mr Dunlop decided he to go after his own

local market. Today he has 6000 birds in production with their eggs

destined for a wide variety of local outlets including corner shops,

butchers, guest houses, nursing homes and hotels. The prestigious

Turnberry Hotel is also among his customers.

One of the main outlets for Scotlay is a home delivery service which

brings day-old free-range eggs straight to the doorstep through a

network of 50 teenage agents covering households in Ayr, Prestwick and

Troon. That service -- which comes at a discount compared to supermarket

prices -- is about to be extended to Kilmarnock and East Kilbride.

The best of these young agents earned #1000 last year including

bonuses and tips. The whole operation is carefully planned with a

leaflet drop, followed up by a house call. Training evenings are held in

a local hotel so that the agents are groomed for their task before they

hit the streets.

''We have worked very hard to get to this position,'' said Mr Dunlop.

''It has been very exciting. We knew there was a market out there, the

question was how to get to it.''

With the help of an assistant, Tracy Hardy, who graduated last year

from Glasgow's Caledonian University in consumer and management studies,

he has adopted a professional approach to marketing. The polystyrene

packs come in a colourful sleeve featuring the cross of St Andrew. At

the recent Kyle and Carrick trade fair the Scotlay stand, which they

devised themselves, was judged to be the best on show.