Harbro’s strategic acquisition of Cargill’s Dalton feed plant signals UK livestock sector expansion

Harbro has announced the purchase of Cargill Animal Nutrition’s Dalton operation in North Yorkshire, promising ongoing investment and integration to bolster its position in the UK livestock feed industry amid industry consolidation.

Harbro has agreed to buy Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health’s operation in Dalton, North Yorkshire, adding a feed plant and related activities to the Scottish family-owned group’s UK footprint.

The Dalton site has been built up over many years, first under Provimi and later Cargill, and Harbro said it intends to keep investing in both the facility and its workforce to maintain production standards. The business will continue to trade separately during the handover while the two companies align systems and processes, with integration expected to be completed by early 2027.

Chris Baxter, Harbro’s chief executive, said the Dalton team’s capabilities and standards made it a strong fit and would help the group widen its offer, deepen customer relationships and create more value across the UK livestock sector. Helene Ziv-Douki, senior vice president for Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health EMEAI and Global Salmon, said the transaction was the right moment to transfer the business so both companies could focus on their strongest areas.

Harbro, founded in Scotland in 1977, supplies livestock nutrition, country store products and on-farm milling services across the UK. Cargill has operated in Britain since 1955 and employs more than 1,200 people at 20 sites.