Company history

“You Make Biscuits!” 

I was talking with an old friend recently explaining where I worked. “Oh, I know that company” he said, “You make biscuits!”

 

I was tempted just to agree with him because setting him straight seemed to be too big a job for the time available. I’m sure a lot of Carr’s colleagues have had a similar conversation and dealt with the same dilemma.

This conversation though did trigger thoughts about how old our business is and how much change it has survived and thrived within, over 180 years.

1831

Company founded by Jonathan Dodgson Carr

Jonathan Dodgson Carr was a remarkable man, with a life characterised by invention, hard work and thrift. Son of a Quaker grocer, he set off to walk from his home in Kendal to Carlisle determined to be a success and contribute something to the life of the nation.

Within 15 years Carr’s of Carlisle had become one of the largest baking businesses in Britain. He was also a vigorous campaigner against slavery and the Corn Laws.

He started milling flour in 1836 for his famous Table Water biscuit factory, and was the first person to recognise the benefits of high quality Canadian wheat

1908

Carr’s Flour Mills Limited incorporated

De-merge from Carr & Co. Limited when Carr’s Flour Mills Limited acquired the flour milling assets.

1950

Changed name from Carr’s Flour Mills Limited to Carr’s Milling Industries Limited

1972

Listing on the London Stock Exchange

1982

Re-registration as a PLC

1996

Acquisition of Bendalls Engineering 

Carr’s first engineering business, Bendalls, is a specialist fabrication business based in Carlisle operating in the nuclear, oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

1997

Acquisition of Animal Feed Supplement (“AFS”), Inc., Oklahoma, USA

AFS was the first company acquired by Carr’s in the USA, starting the expansion of the feed block business and presenting growth opportunities in the USA.<

1998

Closure of animal feed mill at Silloth, Cumbria

1999

Formation of Joint Venture, Carrs Billington Agriculture, to supply animal feed from two mills.

Commission of Animal Feed Supplement’s second plant in South Dakota, USA

2000

Acquisition of AF PLC (2 animal feed mills and 4 retail outlets)

2001

Foot and Mouth Disease affects UK and in particular Cumbria and SW England

2003

Acquisition of assets of engineering business Master Slave Manipulators

MSM, now Carrs MSM, based in Swindon expanded the engineering division. It specialises in the manufacture of manipulators used in the nuclear industry.

2004

Acquisition of Meneba UK flour milling business

Expansion of the flour division, acquiring two mills, one in Kirkcaldy, Fife and the other in Maldon, Essex. With the existing flour mill in Silloth, Cumbria the flour division now has distribution capabilities in north and south England and Scotland.

2005

Acquisition of Wallace Oils Ltd

 

This acquisition was the beginning of the fuel business (Carrs Billington Fuels), supplying fuel to both commercial and domestic customers.

2005

Acquisition by Carrs Billington Agriculture (Operations) Ltd of W&J Pye animal feed producers.

2006

Formation of Crystalyx Products GmbH

This joint venture expanded the manufacture and distribution of the process patented product Crystalyx® in Germany and through Europe.<

2006

Formation of Afgritech Ltd

This joint venture with our South African partners is for the manufacture and sale of the unique rumen bypass protein AminoMax®.

2007

Acquisition of Johnstone Fuels and Lubricants Ltd

Expanding the fuel business.

2009

Acquisition of trade and assets of Hans Wälischmiller GmbH

Wälischmiller designs and manufactures highly specialised robotic arms for the nuclear, oil, gas and petrochemical industries worldwide, extending the expertise and geographical reach of the engineering division.

2010

Acquisition of the AC Burn Ltd and Forsyths of (Wooler) Ltd

The acquisition of these two companies expanded the agriculture retail network in Southern Scotland.

2010

Acquisition of Scotmin Nutrition Ltd

Scotmin Nutrition based in Ayr, Scotland, manufacture mineral blocks, such as Megalix®, complimenting the existing feed block business Caltech.

2011

Acquisition of Safe at Work

Acquisition of Safe at Work Ltd, a specialist protective clothing supplier to the forestry and agricultural markets.

2011

Disposal of Carrs Fertiliser

The disposal reduced the company’s exposure to fluctuating commodity prices and therefore reduced levels of seasonal working capital.

2012

Acquisition of Clive Walton Engineering Ltd

Acquisition of J L Marsden + Petsmart Ltd t/a Laycocks

2013

Commissioning of Kirkcaldy flour mill

This technologically advanced mill takes flour quality and food safety to a new high level in the industry, and has been described as “the world’s most advanced mill”.

2013

Acquisition of Western Feed Supplements

This acquisition expanded the feed block business in the US with a plant in Silver Springs, Nevada.

2013

Commissioning of AminoMax® Plant

Plant commissioned in June expanding the manufacture of the university research proven bypass protein product AminoMax®.  The plant is adjacent to the feed manufacturing facility at Lancaster.

2014

Acquisition of Chirton Engineering Ltd

Precision machining component specialist for the oil and gas industry.

2014

Commissioning of new joint venture feed block plant at Sioux City, Iowa

Successful commissioning of new low moisture feed block plant in Sioux City, Iowa.  The plant is within ACC Feed Supplement LLC, a joint venture with Consumer Supply Distributing LLC, which itself is 50% owned by CHS Inc.

2015

UK Agriculture acquisitions

Acquisition of Green (Agriculture) Co based in Morpeth and Reid and Robertson Ltd in Balloch, Ayr and Oban, expanding the retail customer base.

Acquisition of WM Nicholls & Company (Crickhowell) Ltd based in Crickhowell, Wales, complementing the acquisition of B E Williams Ltd in 2014, and consolidating our feed business in South Wales.

2015

Carr’s Milling Industries PLC changes name

Carr’s Milling Industries PLC name changed to Carr’s Group plc reflecting the geographic and operational diversity of the Company.

2016

Carr’s Group plc sells Food division to Whitworths Holdings Ltd

Sale of Carr’s Flour Mills Ltd to Whitworths Holdings Ltd for £36m, enabling Carr’s Group plc to focus on high value markets within Agriculture and Engineering.

2016

Acquisition of STABER GmbH

Acquisition of STABER GmbH, a German engineering company engaged as a critical supplier to Wälischmiller GmbH.  STABER had developed certain technology integral to Wälischmiller’s product range and the acquisition brings this under Wälischmiller’s control.

2016

UK Agriculture

Acquisition of Phoenix Feeds Ltd, an agricultural merchant based in Lancashire.

2017

Acquisition of NuVision Engineering, Inc

Acquisition of US based technology and applications engineering company focused on providing value in commercial nuclear and power plant facilities, government waste remediation facilities and waste clean-up.

2017

UK Agriculture acquisitions

Acquisition of certain trade and assets of Mortimer Feeds Ltd, an agricultural merchant based in Cheshire.

Acquisition of Horse and Pet Warehouse Ltd, a retailer of animal products for the pet, equine and smallholding market based in Ayr, Scotland.

Acquisition of Pearson Farm Supplies Ltd, an agricultural retail business with locations based in Skipton, Gisburn and Anglesey.

2018

Acquisition of Animax Ltd

Acquisition of a UK based manufacturer of innovative animal supplementation products which enhanced our range of value-adding products to farmers worldwide.

2019

Acquisition of NW Total Engineered Solutions Ltd

Acquisition of service and manufacturing business providing value added solutions to the nuclear industries. The company enhances the Group’s capabilities, adding specialist services such as condition monitoring, together with on-site technical competencies.

2020

Carrs Billington rebrand

Carrs Billington rebranded, complete with new logo and an added apostrophe to become Carr’s Billington.

2022

Disposal of its Agricultural Supplies division

On 26 October 2022, Carr’s Group plc (the “Group”) announced completion of the disposal of its Agricultural Supplies division to Edward Billington & Son Limited.

The Agricultural Supplies division comprised the Group’s interests in the Carrs Billington Agriculture and Bibby Agriculture businesses.

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