Devenish Nutrition has announced the acquisition of Yorkshire-based independent animal nutrition business A-One Feed Supplements Ltd.
Devenish has production facilities in Northern Ireland (Belfast), England (Widnes, Killamarsh and now Thirsk), in North America (Minnesota and Iowa), and is a market leader with more than 60 years’ experience in developing and supplying innovative and research driven nutritional solutions to the pig, poultry, ruminant, companion animal and equine sectors.
Established in 1975, A-One has long been established as a leading specialist manufacturer of feeds and supplements for piglets, ruminants and game in the UK and Ireland, and is a widely recognised and respected brand in the industry.
The A-One Feed brand will continue to operate alongside Devenish’s existing product range, which will allow the enlarged company to provide what it describes as a world-class offering across the UK and Irish agricultural sector.
Speaking on the deal’s completion, the chairman andchief executive of the Devenish Group, Owen Brennan, said the acquisition has been on the company’s radar for some time and was a significant part of its long-term growth strategy.
“We are now the only independent specialist piglet feed manufacturer in the UK and Ireland, and also the largest independent manufacturer overall,”he said.
The former owner of A-One, Andrew Simpson, who had led the business since 1975, said Devenish Nutrition had enjoyed great success in the UK, Ireland and internationally.
“That success, combined with its recent investment into food-grade production facilities at Widnes and an organic mill in Sheffield, made Devenish the ideal partner to combine our strengths with,” he added. “I’m confident the A-One brand will continue to excel under its ownership.”
Devenish announced its intentions to further grow A-One in the UK, Irish and international markets, as well as using the acquisition as an opportunity to further develop the Devenish position in Great Britain.
“It’s our aim that we will manage both businesses to the benefit of our customers and the wider industry through creating and delivering the most valuable nutritional products and solutions possible to the UK and Irish market,” the chief executive of Devenish Nutrition UK and Ireland, Patrick McLaughlin, said.
“Under the leadership of Andrew Simpson for almost 40 years, A-One has become a successful and highly regarded company with a rich heritage in developing high quality specialist products. Indeed, the pioneering nature of the company has been demonstrated over its history, back to its introduction of milk powder in piglet nutrition in the 1970s. That approach is very much aligned with the Devenish commitment to driving performance led innovation in the agri sector and we’re proud to now be bringing the A-One Feeds brand under our ownership.”