CENTAUR GRAIN has launched a new malting barley trading scheme designed to minimise costly rejections, which it claims will provide better returns for growers and an improved service for maltsters.

Centaurmalt is based on contracts with big maltsters, including Coors, Crisp Malting, Greencore and Muntons.

Adrian Fisher, group malting barley manager, said: “Direct farm-to-maltster contracts can work well, but sometimes crops are unsuitable for their intended market. This causes huge expense and inconvenience and affects both producer and maltster.”

The scheme aims to achieve more “right first time” deliveries, using a portfolio of contracts with different maltsters, a range of specifications and accurate post-harvest sampling.

Centaurmalt will provide a minimum and maximum price determined by quality, location and collection period.