Harbro buys Cargill's Dalton animal nutrition business

Harbro has bought Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health’s Dalton business in North Yorkshire, including its feed plant and associated operations, as it expands its UK livestock nutrition footprint.

The Dalton operation will continue to trade as a separate company while the two businesses integrate their systems and processes.

Harbro expects that work to be completed by early 2027.

The acquisition forms part of Harbro’s wider growth strategy and will add manufacturing capacity, supply chain capability and technical expertise across animal nutrition and livestock performance.

The Dalton site was developed first by Provimi and later by Cargill, with investment in production, quality, compliance and operational systems.

Harbro said it plans to continue investing in both the facility and its workforce, while maintaining standards in safety, regulatory compliance and nutrition.

The company also intends to combine technical knowledge and expertise from both businesses to develop its nutritional offering for farmers, wholesale partners and the wider livestock sector.

Chris Baxter, chief executive of Harbro Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome Cargill Dalton’s team into the Harbro Group. The capability, expertise and standards within the business make it an excellent fit for Harbro and will allow us to expand our offering, strengthen our customer relationships, and deliver even greater value across the UK market.”

He added: “By combining the strengths of both teams, we are excited to enhance our nutritional solutions and support improved performance for farmers, wholesale partners and the wider livestock industry.”

Harbro said the two businesses also share a similar approach to building long-term relationships with customers and suppliers.

The acquisition is expected to allow those relationships to continue while creating new opportunities across the combined operation.

Helene Ziv-Douki, senior vice president of Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health EMEAI & Global Salmon, said: “We thank our Dalton team and their commitment to serving the animal nutrition market in the UK.

"This is the right time to transition the business to Harbro, allowing both organisations to focus on where they can have the greatest impact for their customers. We look forward to continuing to partner with them in the future.”

No financial terms for the acquisition were disclosed in the announcement.