A MERGER of two leading southwest livestock groups will create one of the biggest livestock service providers in the region.
Blade Farming Southwest, a Southern Counties Fresh Foods (SCFF) initiative, and Mole Livestock Initiative (MLI), a division of Mole Valley Farmers are joining forces to form a new Blade-MLI partnership.
The aim is to establish an efficient livestock supply chain for 15,000 top quality finished beef animals annually, rising to 30,000 over the next three years.
About half the total will be dedicated to the Somerfield So Good west country beef brand, under the company’s Partnership Plus contract announced earlier this year. The remainder will go to other SCFF retail and food service outlets at home and abroad.
All the beef produced by the partnership will qualify for the new EBLEX English Quality Standard Mark.
Forward prices for both weaned calves and finished stock are guaranteed under Blade-MLI contracts.
Farmers will also have an opportunity to fix costs and margins by forward contracting feed and other supplies via Mole Valley Farmers and other approved suppliers.
And the new partnership will also provide skilled advice to members on all aspects of profitable calf rearing and beef finishing.
Andrew Jackson, MVF Chief Executive said: “With the synergies between Blade and MLI it makes sense to bring the two together. We need to offer our members an efficient service as the industry faces new challenges without subsidies."
Richard Phelps, Managing Director of SCFF and the new Blade-MLI partnership added: "The new partnership will allow us to grow the niche brands that are now in demand through our retail and food service customers. We plan to expand the new business into other areas of the UK over the next twelve months."
