Sealeswinslow expands into Whanganui

Animal feed company Sealeswinslow is expanding on its Waikato and Ashburton operations with a feedmill in Whanganui.

The latest addition will be the redevelopment of the Inghams feedmill and grain storage complex in Whanganui with modern milling equipment for the 2013-14 dairy season.

Chief executive Graeme Smith said the multimillion-dollar feedmill development was in line with Sealeswinslow wanting to be a national business for dairy, sheep and beef farmers and would not be the last investment the company made.

‘‘That is not just $2 million, it’s a big development and we will put a new mill in there most likely from Europe, and put in storage and distribution facilities.’’

He said the company was now positioned in high-growth dairying regions. ‘‘A large percentage of our business is in dairying and that will drive growth although we still provide feed to drystock.’’

The company was formed last year when Ballance Agri-nutrients bought a 51 per cent shareholding in Seales in Morrinsville and Winslow Feeds and Nutrition in Ashburton.

Its Ashburton site will supply molasses blocks to New Zealand outlets and pelletised compound feeds to the South Island with this product to be made for northern sales at its Whanganui and Waikato plants.

Sealeswinslow has been investing in removing bottlenecks at the Ashburton site.

Ballance Agri-nutrients chief executive Larry Bilodeau said the development supported Ballance’s aim to create a nationwide business in farm nutrients from pasture to supplements.