One of the UK’s leading independent sawmills is to expand its range of vegetable storage boxes after opening a dedicated manufacturing site in the Scottish borders. A&J Scott Ltd, based near Alnwick in Northumberland, has been producing boxes since the 1970’s, but has until now focused primarily on the production of fencing and outdoor products at its main sawmill site.

Now, though, following a decade of investment in new sawmill machinery and expanding its main site at Wooperton, the family owned company has set up a manufacturing site at Chirnside Sawmill near Duns to start production of boxes for farms throughout the UK.

To kickstart the project, the firm has brought in a dedicated Sales Executive to focus on box development. And Louisa Cuthbert, an Agricultural Food Marketing graduate with 12 years’ experience in the produce industry, is no stranger to the firm, as the eldest grandchild of Andrew Scott Senior, who founded the sawmill business in 1960.

Louisa will develop relationships with customers to build the company’s understanding of their needs and develop the most cost-effective solutions for the safe transportation and storage of their product.

With boxes produced in the 80s still in circulation the company will build on its longstanding experience of  quality boxes to increase sales of its British Standard BS7611 accredited boxes as well as bespoke design and manufacture where required, and sales of repair boards.

To increase production the firm will draw on its supply chain of home-grown redwood from sustainably managed forests throughout Scotland and the North of England. The company now processes in excess of a quarter of a million tonnes of softwood per year to supply its fencing products, railway sleepers and other outdoor timbers to its loyal base of customers across the UK.

 Louisa Cuthbert said, “Having grown up in a farming family myself I’m excited to work with farmers to develop our box manufacturing to suit their needs. I’ll be looking to make contact with customers in the near future and would be delighted to hear from farmers who need a reliable source of high quality boxes and repair boards.”

Managing Director, Robert Scott, said, “We are delighted to welcome a family member on board to develop our longstanding box manufacturing operation. With a modern sawmill to supply our new manufacturing site we are well geared up to meet the requirements of the farming community in the years to come. “

For more information on A&J Scott, please visit www.ajscott.co.uk or call 07970 823120 to speak to Louisa Cuthbert.

*This article contains sponsored content and does not necessarily represent the views of The Scottish Farmer.​​​