Paul Kelly Takes Over the Turkey Business

In 2004, Paul Kelly officially took over the running of our turkey business from his father, Derek Kelly. Paul had already spent two decades working in the family company, having joined full-time in 1984 after completing his studies. He had worked through a difficult period for independent turkey producers and played a role in developing the market for the family's traditional bronze birds. The handover represented a generational change for the business Derek and Mollie Kelly had established in Essex in 1971. With Paul at the helm, Kelly Turkeys continued developing its specialist Christmas turkey business and the KellyBronze brand. Derek did not retire from farming altogether; our company history records that he began a separate beef enterprise, Derek Kelly Beef, after Paul took over. Later accounts describe Paul as managing director and confirm that the family business remained under his leadership. Derek continued to be active in the poultry industry after stepping back from the company.