Insider Media Limited

Staffordshire business A&F Williamson and Sons has been bought by animal feed manufacturer HJ Lea Oakes for an undisclosed sum.

HJ Lea Oakes said production of its blended animal feeds would continue at A&F Williamson's Endon site, before being transferred to its new purpose-built factory at Prees Heath in Shropshire.

A&F employs five people at its factory.

Dominic Bovis, commercial director of Cheshire-based HJ Lea Oakes, said: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement for the transfer of the blended feeds business of A&F Williamson & Sons.

"Existing customers will continue to receive the excellent level of attention and service they are used to, while in time bringing volume sales to our brand new blending facility at Prees Heath."

HJ Lea Oakes, which employs around 120 people, can trace its history back to Swettenham Mill in 1675, where the Lea family began milling feeds to supply the Cheshire farming community. In addition to its Nantwich base, it also operates mills in Sandbach and Congleton.

Bovis added: "The deal expands our geographical reach, but also gives us access to a part of the feed market that we weren't previously dealing with."

A&F Williamson director Michael Williamson is transferring to the HJ Lea Oakes management team, where he will provide farm advice and support to all existing customers.

In a joint statement with fellow director Trevor Williamson, he said: "We are very excited that we have been able to transfer our business to a company that shares the same values.

"HJ Lea Oakes is an independent family business that has been producing animal feeds for farmers for many generations and we transfer the business knowing that it is passing into safe hands and is well protected for the future."