Mole Valley Farmers has taken on the lease of ABN’s feed mill at Uffculme, Devon, in an attempt to “better service” its organic customers.
The agreement will come into effect from Friday, September 1, when the agricultural retailer will begin using it as a “dedicated organic facility”.
The existing workforce at the Uffculme mill, which is located 25 miles south of Huntworth, will join the Mole Valley Farmers business once the lease comes into effect.
Chief executive of Mole Valley Farmers, Jack Cordery, said: “The number of organic feed manufacturers in the south west has reduced in recent years, but as a business, we remain firmly committed to the organic sector,” he explained.
“Bringing Uffculme into our portfolio will enable us to move organic production out of our Huntworth Mill in Somerset, into a dedicated facility.
“This will drive significant efficiencies through Huntworth, promoting better use of energy and tighter cost control, whilst removing the complexities of running a single mill that produces both conventional and organic rations.”
Mole Valley Farmers said the site will enable the production of a wider range for finished organic products formulated by its technical team.
“Moving organic production out of Huntworth will facilitate greater manufacturing capacity for conventional bulk feed and Mole Valley Farmers’ bagged products at this site,” the company said.
“It will also allow the business to in-source bag warehousing, which will streamline the supply chain for customers and retail stores.”
In addition, the company hopes that it will be possible for a greater range of conventional raw materials to be held at Huntworth, helping to reduce formulation costs and improve quality.
“Our commitment remains to all of our existing feed mills. The additional mill will ensure we are well placed for the years ahead, helping us to deliver our core purpose of supporting our farmer shareholders to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability,” Cordery said.
