Safeguarding feed supplies for our farmers
Reliable access to quality feed ingredients is essential for every farming business. Our Trading Team works closely with suppliers, hauliers and customers every day to help maintain supply, provide market insight and support informed buying decisions.
Over the past 10 months, our raw material operation at Plymouth’s Cattedown Wharves has become an important part of that support.
By bringing raw materials closer to the farms and mills they supply, Plymouth gives the team greater flexibility, helps reduce transport miles and provides another option when managing supply across the South of England.
Having raw material storage at the Plymouth port also complements our long-standing supplier relationships. By combining trusted partnerships with additional supply routes, we are better placed to respond to changing market conditions and support customers when supply chains come under pressure.
That flexibility proved valuable during the recent disruption at the rapeseed crushing facility in Erith, one of the UK’s largest rapeseed processing facilities and a key source of rapeseed meal for livestock diets. Although many customers saw little disruption on farm, this reflected significant work behind the scenes.
Our Procurement, Trading, Transport and Forwarding teams worked closely to secure alternative supply, coordinate logistics and maintain deliveries.
Access to additional routes, including through Plymouth, provided another important option in helping farmers continue to receive the rapeseed meal they needed. Shaun Hambley, Head of Trading, said: “Plymouth is now an important part of our supply network. It complements the strong relationships we already have with suppliers and gives us greater flexibility in how we source and schedule raw materials.
“Ultimately, it strengthens our ability to support customers, particularly when markets or supply chains are under pressure.”
Recently, members of our Trading Team visited Cattedown Wharves to see the operation first-hand, meet the port team and hear about plans to invest further in the site.
Shaun concluded: "Having access to Plymouth is a real benefit for our regional customers. It brings ingredients closer to where they are needed and gives our team another way to support farmers locally, while still drawing on the strength, scale and buying power of Mole Valley Farmers.”
Our regional Trading Teams are based in the areas they support, giving farmers access to local knowledge and personal relationships, backed by the expertise of Mole Valley Farmers’ wider feed business.
Speak to your local Trading Team
Our regional Trading Teams are on hand to discuss feed markets, raw material options and how we can support your farm.
Southern Region:
Email: traders.south@molevalleyfarmers.com
Phone: 01566 780261
Central Region:
Email: traders.central@molevalleyfarmers.com
Phone: 01488 684155
Northern Region:
Email: traders.north@molevalleyfarmers.com
Phone: 01260 282500
