East Anglian grain co-ops merge


By Olivia Cooper


NORFOLK-BASED co-op Aylsham Grain is to merge with Centaur Grain, creating a large new farmer-controlled marketing force in East Anglia.


Aylsham Grain was founded in 1981 and now has over 140 members, having grown fivefold over the past five years.


“The proposed merger will give our members increased confidence for the future marketing of our cereals, while offering Centaur the ideal opportunity to expand into East Anglia,” says chairman Jack Hammond.


Centaur was created in January 2001, the result of a merger between Lingrain and Group Cereal Services.


It currently has about 1100 members and claims to be the biggest co-op in terms of committed grain, marketing over 1.3m tonnes of grain each year.


The company is looking to merge with more small marketing organisations in the future, says chairman Richard Beldam.


“Given the current economic conditions facing the agricultural industry, further consolidation within farmer-controlled marketing business is inevitable.


“We believe many smaller marketing organisations will see the benefits of joining Centaur.”

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