Summit Milling managing director Kevin Sherrie and Mort & Co CEO Stephen O’Brien on site at the Guyra Stockfeed Mill.

AFTER three years of ownership, Mort & Co is selling the Guyra Stockfeed Mill in northern New South Wales to newly incorporated business Summit Milling.

The Guyra Stockfeed Mill was established by the Vivers family, and since 2007 has been producing high-quality stockfeed  in the New England region, a major sheep and beef cattle area.

The Guyra mill manufactures a range of products to support the supplementary feeding requirements of livestock and poultry producers.

It currently has a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum and supplies pellets in bulk, and 20kg, 500kg, and 1-tonne bags.

The sale will see Summit Milling purchase the site and its physical assets, including the mill, delivery trucks, and some additional equipment.

While Mort & Co customers will be required to open a new account with Summit Milling to continue trading, there is expected to be little disruption to the business, and the mill will remain open during the change of ownership.

“We look forward to taking the reins of the Guyra Stockfeed Mill and maintaining the high standards Mort & Co established,” Summit Milling managing director Kevin Sherrie said.

“Mort & Co is to be congratulated on its service to the New England region, and for its commitment to producing market-leading, nutritionally focused stockfeed.”

Mort & Co chief executive officer Stephen O’Brien said the acquisition was a positive outcome for everyone.

“The Guyra mill is an important business for the region, employing local people and delivering products essential to the success of many farming businesses,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our suppliers, staff and customers for their loyalty.

“We are thrilled to be able to hand over to a family-run local company which shares similar values to the Mort & Co business.

“We know that Kevin, Robyn and their daughter Katherine, along with the Summit Milling team, will ensure the Guyra mill continues its proud history of servicing the region.”

Mr Sherrie thanked Mort & Co for working “proactively and collaboratively” with Summit Milling throughout the transaction.

“It’s an exciting time ahead as the Guyra Stockfeed Mill is under the ownership of our family business.

“We are pleased to be able to support local employment and the continued growth of Guyra into the future.”

The acquisition settled yesterday.

Mort & Co is one of Australia’s largest lotfeeders, and turns over in excess of 215,000 cattle annually.

It owns two feedlots in Queensland, Pinegrove near Millmerran and Australia’s largest feedlot, Grassdale, near Dalby, and also owns half of Yarranbrook Feedlot near Inglewood.

Mr Sherrie has a long involvement with the flour-milling industry, and in 2004 established FPM Cereal Milling Systems at Tamworth, 150km south of Guyra.

FPM is a respected independent miller of single-origin and other specialty flours, and Katherine Sherrie said the purchase of the Guyra mill makes sense as a place to value-add byproducts from its flour mill.

While Mr Sherrie has managed stockfeed mills in New Zealand prior to the establishment of FPM, this is the first investment the family has made in stockfeed milling.

Source: Summit Milling, Mort & Co, FPM Cereal Milling Systems