Openfield
{{Short description|British grain marketing and arable inputs co-operative}}
{{unreferenced|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Openfield Group Ltd
| logo =
| type = Co-operative
| foundation = 17 November 2008, through merger of Grainfarmers of south Hampshire and Centaur Grain of north Hampshire
| location = Colsterworth, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, NG33 5LY
| key_people = James Dallas (Chief Executive)
Philip Moody(Chairman)
| area_served = UK
| industry = Arable agriculture
| products = Seed
Fertiliser
Grain
Storage
| revenue =
| operating_income = £555m (2023/4)
| net_income = £0.8m (2023/4)
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees =
| homepage = [http://www.openfield.co.uk Openfield]
}}
Openfield is a British grain marketing and arable inputs co-operative based in Lincolnshire. It is one of Britain's largest agricultural companies and Britain's only national co-operative in its field, with a turnover of over £550m. It markets grain for farmers and grain stores. In other countries, mainly Canada, this type of company is known as a wheat pool. The head office is based on the former RAF North Witham and prominent customers include some of the largest and well known British food and drink brands in the UK.
Openfield is a member of the [https://www.agindustries.org.uk/sectors/trade-assurance-schemes/fias-fertiliser-industry-assurance-scheme.html Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme], and works with many fertiliser suppliers including CF, Glasson, ICL, Nitrasol, Omex, Origin, Timac and Yara. It is also a member of the Agricultural Industries Confederation.
History
It was formed in November 2008 from the merger of Centaur Grain (of Andover) and Grainfarmers (of Micheldever, Winchester). It is now{{When|date=June 2021}} the largest UK farmer owned grain marketing co-operative and one of the largest companies in Lincolnshire, by turnover.{{Cn|date=June 2021}} The Colsterworth site opened in 1980.
=Centaur Grain=
Centaur had been formed in 2001 when Group Cereal Services (GCS) of South East England joined Lingrain of the East of England. It was based at Goodworth Clatford in north Hampshire.
=Grainfarmers=
This began as the Southern Counties Agricultural Trading Society in 1907. It was renamed as Grainfarmers Group Ltd in 2003. It had offices in Aberdeen, Walton (near Wetherby), Bressingham, Compton Abdale, Cannington and Micheldever. It marketed over 17% of the UK's grain and represented over 4000 farmers.{{Cn|date=June 2023}}
External links
- [http://www.openfield.co.uk Openfield]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090127131117/http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/Mergers_home/decisions/2008/Grainfarmers "Anticipated merger between Grainfarmers Group and Centaur Grain Group"] (Office of Fair Trading, 2008)
- {{Cite web|last=Spackman|first=Paul|date=2008-09-12|title=Grainfarmers and Centaur Grain merger plans announced|url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/grainfarmers-and-centaur-grain-merger-plans-announced|website=Farmers Weekly|language=en-US}}
{{Agriculture in the United Kingdom}}
Category:British companies established in 2008
Category:Companies based in Lincolnshire
Category:South Kesteven District
Category:Co-operatives in the United Kingdom
Category:Agricultural marketing cooperatives
Category:Agricultural supply cooperatives