Stonegate Farmers Limited v Joey Heavey

Facts

Stonegate Farmers Ltd, an English egg packer and distributor, was party to an exclusive egg supply agreement dated 6 November 2000 with Mr Joey Heavey, a Northern Ireland farmer. Under the British Egg Industry Council's scheme, Stonegate held Mr Heavey's "Lion Code", without which he could not sell Lion Eggs to another packer at the higher price. By Award 1 of 6 May 2025 the sole arbitrator, Mr Glaister, held that the agreement had terminated on 4 October 2024, rejecting Stonegate's case that it had been varied to run to 2026. Stonegate released the Lion Code on 14 May 2025. By Award 2 of 14 July 2025 the arbitrator held that Stonegate had breached an implied term to release the Lion Code once the contract ended and awarded Mr Heavey £116,114.78, a figure the parties had agreed. Mr Heavey had never argued for an implied term. Stonegate challenged Award 2 under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and alternatively appealed under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996; HHJ Pelling KC refused permission for the appeal. A parallel dispute with Chucks Farm Ltd, also before Mr Glaister, had been remitted by HHJ Russen KC, and the arbitrator's award on that remission was given on 7 August 2026, with Stonegate bringing a further challenge to it on 4 September 2026.