Suffolk grass seed business acquires Scottish counterpart
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 | BUSINESS SALE
Barenbrug UK, a grass seed breeder and grower, has purchased Scottish specialist seed company Watson Seeds. Watson Seeds, established 33 years ago by third-generation seedsman Johnny Watson, also includes Seed Logistics and GroGreen.
Paul Johnson (pictured above, left, with Johnny Watson), Barenbrug UK's managing director, stated that the acquisition reflects the strong, enduring connection between the companies.
He said: “Barenbrug has long been one of the main seed suppliers to these companies and we are very closely aligned in ethos and values being family-owned businesses with the emphasis on integrity, quality and service, and focusing on the customer’s needs.”
Johnson added that the acquisition was a significant step for the firm’s UK operations, saying: “By giving us a much stronger offering in Scotland, we will complement our existing geographies and strengthen our position across the UK.”
He continued: “Watson Seeds has an established on-farm trials and variety observation programme, which when combined with our own Scottish variety trials programme will considerably enrich our grass-breeding programme.”
“We already have two new varieties on the Scottish Recommended List, but this acquisition will give added impetus to our efforts to further improve our varieties’ standing in the RL, just as we have done in England and Wales.”
Describing the acquisition as a “meeting of two like-minded companies”, Watson Seeds founder Johnny Watson said: “It will very much be business as usual for Watson Seeds. Our ambitious plan for continued growth and development will benefit from access to the resources and support of the global Barenbrug group.”
“I’ve spent a long time on trial sites, assessing Barenbrug material to compare its performance against the rest. I’m increasingly encouraged by Barenbrug’s materials, and how its advances in grass breeding are so well suited to our farming environment.”
“Both of our families have a history within the herbage seed trade stretching for more than a century, I have nothing but heartfelt enthusiasm in seeing the business acquired by a company who truly understands our trade.”
Barenbrug UK, Watson Seeds, Seed Logistics, and GroGreen will maintain their separate business identities and operations.
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