THE SPECIALIST crop group, Premium Crops, has been bought by Cefetra – a 4m-tonne per year trader with a base in Glasgow.

Since 2001, Premium Crops established itself as the leading UK arable crop agri-business focused on niche crops such as high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR), linseed, red wheat, canary seed, millet and naked oats. Cefetra said the move would improve its capability to purchase grains and oilseeds direct from British farmers.

Andrew Mackay, managing director at Cefetra, commented: “We believe the acquisition of Premium Crops will allow us to add value to the services we offer to our customers, both growers and end users alike. By diversifying our portfolio with this acquisition, we will be able to offer an even wider range of products and services to both farmers in the UK and our customers across Europe.”

Premium Crops will continue to operate from its existing Hampshire base, maintaining its name and staff and Andrew Probert, managing director at Premium Crops, added: “The backing of Cefetra, one of UK agriculture’s strongest businesses, will allow us access to significantly greater resources. The partnership enables us to offer our growers an unbeatable range of cropping options, outstanding agronomic support and unrivalled access to premium crop contracts.”

The acquisition follows Cefetra’s purchase of Wessex Grain in November, 2015 and presents a significant opportunity for growers, said Mr Probert: “Demand is growing across multiple industries and we believe these premium crops represent a small yet key component of the future of a diversified and specialised arable agricultural market globally.”

Cefetra is part of BayWa, a Munich-based company which operates in the agriculture, building materials and energy sectors and which has an annual turnover is now in excess of €15bn.