North West feed manufacturers unified as acquisition completes

Lancashire’s B Dugdale & Son Ltd has completed its acquisition of fellow North West feed manufacturer B Tickle & Sons Ltd.

The Clitheroe-based firm, which trades as Dugdale Nutrition Ltd, snapped up 100% of the Liverpool company’s share capital with undisclosed funding support from Barclays.

Together, the two family-owned businesses have supplied farmers of Northern England and beyond for a combined 330 years.

As part of the deal, Matthew Tickle joined the Dugdale Nutrition board in the role of operations director, to work alongside managing director Matthew Dugdale and finance director Michael Townend.

Mr Dugdale and Mr Townend, in turn, joined the board at B Tickle & Sons Ltd, which will continue to manufacture ruminant feed but operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of B Dugdale & Son Ltd.

Work at the firm’s blending operation in Speke, Liverpool, will cease as production is absorbed into Dugdale Nutrition’s new purpose built blend plant.

The decision will give the new combined business expanded warehousing capacity at the Speke site, enabling bagged products to be stockpiled ahead of peak demand periods.

Mr Dugdale said: “Dugdale Nutrition had seen rapid expansion, particularly over the last two to three years.

“With the manufacture of compound feeds at the Clitheroe site at 100% capacity, the acquisition of B Tickle & Sons Ltd allows extra manufacturing capacity, enabling the long term aim of both companies to deliver outstanding customer service. “

Barclays relationship director Steve Berry commented: “Barclays is delighted to support this transaction - the unification of two long established family businesses, represents job security and opportunities for the employees of both companies.

“It also ensures that a strong independent ruminant feed manufacturer continues to serve the industry in the northern marketplace.”