Press release: Openfield completes Countrywide Farmers grain acquisition

[News]

Openfield is pleased to announce that its acquisition of the grain business from Countrywide Farmers has been successfully completed, effective from 31 December 2014. We are delighted to welcome the employees, customers and farmers who engage with the team at Countrywide.

Commenting on the transaction, Openfield chief executive James Dallas said: “We look forward to working with the grain team to build on the strong relationships that they have developed with farmers and customers alike, we believe that this is a great addition to the Openfield business.”


Countrywide Farmers chief executive John Hardman said: “We thank the grain team for their contributions to our business and feel that Openfield represents the best opportunity for our staff and customers, providing a specialist and well respected environment in which they can continue to flourish. This restructure will allow us to focus and invest in our Countrystore retail network of 53 stores across England and Wales, to better meet the needs of the farming and wider rural community and to deliver long term growth.”

About Openfield:

Openfield was formed in 2008 following the merger of Centaur and Grainfarmers and is the UK’s leading farmer-owned grain marketing business handling around 4.5mt of grain every year. Find more information about Openfield at www.openfield.co.uk


· Openfield is the UK’s leading farmer-owned grain marketing business handling around 4.6mt of grain every year;

· Openfield is owned by 2700 farmers who commit grain to the business and also works with over 4000 others;

· Openfield markets over 1mt of grain for the Openfield Network central storage member companies every year;

· Openfield is also one of the largest suppliers of seed and fertilisers to UK farmers.


Countrywide Farmers is the UK’s leading supplier of products, services and advice to the rural community. With a 100 year heritage, we are at the heart of the countryside, appreciate the rural way of life and understand the challenges faced by all those who live and work in rural communities. Find more information about Countrywide at www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk

 

[Condi]

This restructure will allow us to focus and invest in our Countrystore retail network of 53 stores across England and Wales, to better meet the needs of the farming and wider rural community and to deliver long term growth.”

What would have been better was if they had met the needs of their farmer shareholders by actually maintaining some links with the farming community and not becoming a retail company selling over-priced wellington boots and horse rugs.

But whatever...

 

[Speyside]

I thought that Openfield would have needed all their cash to cover their £4.2 million loss.........

 

[grimmy]

What would have been better was if they had met the needs of their farmer shareholders by actually maintaining some links with the farming community and not becoming a retail company selling over-priced wellington boots and horse rugs.

But whatever...

Agreed. Our local store is a joke. Most of the staff have no clue what your asking for. The farming supplies are ever shrinking in favour of horse stuff. We only keep our acount as a backup.