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Company history

Openfield news

Seed News 3/2/2012 >

3rd February 2012

Mercedes-Benz Actros go with the grain for Openfield >

27th January 2012

Openfield signs deal to supply feed wheat to the United States >

17th November 2011

Angus Cereals marks first consignment to leave £6.5m facility >

26th October 2011

More news >

Company history

Openfield was formed in November 2008 bringing together the two largest farmer owned businesses: Grainfarmers and Centaur.

1907:Founded as the Southern Counties Agricultural Trading Society
1937:Grain marketing division formed
1978:Construction of Hampshire Grain Central Store
1984:Construction of Wiltshire Grain Central Store
1987:Construction of Weald Granary Central Store
1999:Acquired Continental Grain UK and BDR. Formed seed and fertiliser JV with UAP
2000:Acquired grain division of Countrywide Farmers and established marketing partnerships with West Country Grain and CMG
2001:Acquired Sherriff Grain
2003:SCATS renamed as Grainfarmers Group Ltd. Acquired the grain business of Dalgety Arable Ltd and established marketing agreements with Aberdeen Grain and Union Grain
2005:Established marketing agreement with Camgrain
1970's:Various small local groups form joint marketing companies Group Cereal Services (GCS) in South East England and Lingrain in East England
1980's:Federal organisations formed around Lingrain and GCS
1995:Arable Crop Marketing join GCS
1999:Velcourt commence marketing contract with GCS
2001:GCS and Lingrain merge to form Centaur
2002:Aylsham Grain joins Centaur
2002:Viking Cereals members join Centaur
2003:Centaur acquires UK business of J Soufflet

2008: Grainfarmers and Centaur merge - Openfield is formed