Gleadell Agriculture have announced a significant investment in the port of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, where they will build a brand new state of the art drying and storage grain facility. The facility, which adjoins the quay in the outer harbour, is planned to be operational for harvest 2010. Gleadell will also invest in a new B&W fully mobile shiploader capable of loading vessels up to 25,000 mt.
David Sheppard, Managing Director of Gleadell Agriculture Ltd said, "Our business in East Anglia has grown strongly over the past few years and Great Yarmouth presents us with an opportunity to expand our export and import business in the region in a deep water port.
"In 2008, we commissioned a new grain storage and drying facility in Immingham and this has proved to be a very successful investment, so we are looking to mirror the thriving long term grain import / export business we have in the ports of Grimsby and Immingham at the new Great Yarmouth Grain Terminal.
"With the support of our shareholders, AC Toepfer International and Union InVivo, we believe that we can provide farmers throughout the East Anglian region with valuable markets for their produce in the future. Despite the advent of the bioethanol industry, it is our belief that shipping - both importing and exporting - will continue to be a vital part of the UK grain industry well into the future."
Gleadell and the Great Yarmouth Port Company Ltd, trading as EastPort UK, have reached a long term agreement that will see Gleadell concentrating their East Anglian export and import grain business in the port which is operated by the Great Yarmouth Port Company Ltd who, in the past two years, have constructed the new outer harbour which will be capable of accepting vessels with a draft of up to 10 metres.
Eddie Freeman, Chief Executive of the Great Yarmouth Port Company Ltd commented: "The port are delighted to welcome Gleadell, one of the leading UK grain businesses, as a long term partner in Great Yarmouth’s outer harbour development. Agriculture features strongly in our regional economy. This, and the strength of Gleadell, will establish us as a major player nationally in this sector."
Trevor Gates, Gleadell’s East Anglian Regional Manager, added: "we have grown our business in East Anglia with farmer customers, co-operatives and smaller merchants. We believe the Gleadell Great Yarmouth Grain Terminal, being located at an end user destination, and therefore avoiding the double haulage incurred in all central stores, will provide an extremely useful and competitive drying and storage facility for farmers. We also believe that our flour milling customers and maize consumers in the region will find the facility well positioned for the import and storage of high quality milling wheat and maize. "
