Feed Firm Consolidation

There has been further consolidation in the animal feed sector over the last few months.  Firstly, NWF took over the SC Feeds business based in Stone, Staffordshire in December.  At the start of February, BOCM Pauls (now owned by Dutch co-op ForFarmers) purchased HST Feeds based in Cheshire.  Whilst feed sales volumes have been better in recent times (helped  by the weather), there is still structural over-capacity in the sector.  Such takeovers are designed to drive rationalisation and help improve the economies of scale of the largest players.