The Top Country stockfeed manufacturing plant at Roma. Photo: Elders

FAMILY health issues have led Darling Downs agribusiness figures Stephen and Natalie Aisthorpe to put their two stockfeed manufacturing operations and a vacant industrial land parcel up for sale.

Located on the Warrego Highway at Roma, the Top Country facility has been managed by the Ainsthorpe family since they relocated their existing Roma Stockfeeds operation to the site in 2002.

The original business began out of the family farm south-west of Roma just over 30 years ago, with the goal to diversify the property’s income.

The 8.087-hectare site manufactures dry loose lick supplements, self-regulating production mixes and complete grain rations for the beef, dairy, sheep, goat and equine industries.

Operational staff and nutritionists may be retained by the business.

Just last month, the company was highlighting the recent upgrades made to the Top Country facility.

These included the addition of new silos, overhead bulk bins, bucket elevators, enhanced intake pit systems and the addition of a second bagging line.

“These improvements have greatly increased our capacity and efficiency,” the Aisthorpe Group said.

Formerly known as Soya Feeds, the Aisthorpes purchased the Smarter Nutrition facility at Dalby from Greg and Margaret Bailey in 2022.

The Aisthorpes bought the site in order to ensure they had a continual supply of raw ingredients for the Roma facility.

It is currently operating as an established stockfeed manufacturing business which specialises in full-fat soya meal and meal blends.

At the time of the purchase, Mr Aisthorpe said the company intended to make upgrades to the Soya Feeds plant, such as expanding it to run up to six separate manufacturing operations.

Since 2022, Mr Aisthorpe had already broadened the production capacity to include a wider variety of protein meals and products.

The company had also consolidated operations, moving its Top Country depot and fabricated productions operation, Smarter Rural, to the Dalby site.

The Aisthorpes have also listed a 10ha vacant land parcel which adjoins the Top Country site.

It is zoned commercial/industrial and is also adjacent to the Roma Saleyards.

In a Facebook post, the Aisthorpe’s said the move to list Top Country and Smarter Nutrition was a “difficult decision” for the family.

“Throughout the years, we have faced both ups and downs, but we are proud of what we have built and look forward to seeing continued success for Top Country in the years to come,” the post said.

Elders Real Estate agribusiness transactions and investment specialist Phillip Kelly is handling the listing on behalf of the Aisthorpes.

The Smarter Nutrition site at Dalby. Photo: Elders

Mr Kelly said it was rare to see these kinds of businesses come to market, especially as both are “going concerns that are fully operational” and come with existing suppliers and customer bases.

He said the Roma and Dalby facilities complement each other with production of meals from Smarter Nutrition contributing to the raw product used to create the bespoke stockfeed products under the Top Country range.

He said prospective buyers have the option to secure all or part of the assets.

“We’re marketing them as a whole or individually and there is a fair bit of flexibility there,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said he already had strong interest in the facilities.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from organisations that are already involved in the industry as well as others who are looking at diversifying their existing business operations.”

The properties are for sale by formal tender which closes on December 12.

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