Mole Valley Farmers (MVF) is to lease the ABN feed mill at Uffculme near Cullompton in Devon, located near Junction 27 of the M5. The farmer-owned business plans to dedicate all its organic production there, enabling it to expand conventional feed manufacture at its Huntworth Mill in Somerset.
Mole Valley Farmers
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ABN, an AB Agri company, acquired Uffculme in 2011 from the Boparan family business that also runs the 2Sisters integrated poultry meat business, with a long-term agreement to supply broiler feeds to Hook2Sisters. The 100,000 tonne capacity mill has been manufacturing both ABN organic and conventional poultry feeds since 2013.
MVF will assume control of the mill on Friday 1st September, when the existing experienced workforce at Uffculme will move across from ABN. The company says the investment to move its organic ruminant production from Huntworth to a dedicated organic mill will enable it to produce a wider range of finished organic products, including organic monogastric rations. As well as serving its existing organic customers better, the move will add greater competition to the organic market, with potential for further expansion in future.
At the same time, Huntworth Mill will gain more space for the manufacture of conventional bulk feeds and the MVF range of bagged products. It will allow the business to in-source bag warehousing to streamline the supply chain for its customers and retail store chain. There will be more storage space for a greater range of conventional raw materials, helping to reduce formulation costs and improve product quality.
“ABN has implemented several changes across its estate to ensure that we are able to continue to serve our customers with the product and service that they require – both now and in the future,” comments ABN general manager Danny Johnson.
“Moving forward, we will be consolidating feed volume from Uffculme into our Cullompton facility and working with our customers to ensure a smooth transition,” he concludes.
“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,” says MVF chief executive Jack Cordery.
“Bringing Uffculme into our portfolio will enable us to move organic production out of our Huntworth Mill 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.
“Our commitment remains to all of our existing feed mills,” Mr Cordery adds. “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.”
MVF already has four ruminant feed mills (Dorchester, Coylton, Huntworth and Lifton); feed blending facilities at Heals and Risdon and its own mineral and supplements manufacturing plant.