Dugdale Nutrition, an independently owned family company and one of the UK's leading regional ruminant feed manufacturer, is preparing to open its new GBP£1 million feed plant.
The company is forecasting a growth in the local Lancashire sheep and cattle sector, and have built the feed plant in order to meet the increased feed demand an expansion would produce.
The feed blending unit, which is located at the company's headquarters in Salthill, Clitheroe, is expected to open this month..
The new feed plant is expected to produce 50,000 tonnes of blended food per annum.
Talking about the new feed plant, Dugdale Nutrition's Managing director Matthew Dugdale said "This is a significant investment from the shareholders of Dugdale Nutrition, showing their long term commitment to supplying the ruminant sector."
"This is based on the belief that the future for dairy, beef and lamb is positive and we believe that, as a 100 per cent independent family-owned business, we are perfectly positioned to adapt to the changing needs of our customers in the years to come. This will allow the business to continue its recent expansion whilst staying true its roots of openness, high quality products and exceptional customer service.
The new feed plant will be the only purpose-built blending facility in Northern England, designed to allow articulated wagons freedom to manoeuvre with no height restriction reducing unloading times to a minimum.
Commercial manager Andy Galling said "There is a large and increasing demand from farmers for both proprietary and bespoke blends which the new unit will help meet.
"The new blend shed will produce bespoke unground blends. While the majority of sales will be in bulk, the shed will also offer smaller amounts and the option for farmers to collect blends."
"It means that we can become the one stop shop for farmers’ ruminant feed needs."
"It is very much a state-of-the-art facility, able to produce and handle blends, including the addition of a wide range of nutrition enhancing micro-nutrients, with great accuracy."
"Our mill currently produces compound feeds plus ground meals. The new blend shed will produce bespoke unground blends. While the majority of sales will be in bulk, the shed will also offer smaller amounts in one tonne tote bags and the option for farmers to collect blends if they wish."
The blending shed will come into production by April and we are planning an open day and official opening in July.
Dugdale Nutrition currently operate a feed plant in Bellman, which opened in 1981. The company has re-invested over GBP£2 million over the past 5 years, and currently produces 100,000 tonnes of feed per year supplying the North West of England.
