HBPW Helps Secure Morrisons Grain Supply

A three-way partnership between HBPW, a major grain operator and Wm Morrisons Supermarkets, is playing its part in helping secure the UK’s food supply chain.

Several years ago Wm Morrisons Supermarkets acquired Murton Grange in the North York Moors National Park, a substantial 542 hectares agricultural and previously sporting estate, close to the village of Hawnby, which it now operates as an agricultural enterprise.

Partner, Emyr Parry, said: “The supermarket chain required the erection of a wet grain in-take building, grain drier and grain store at its operation on Ox Pasture Lane, and McArthur Agriculture who build and maintain many of the food and feed processing systems critical to the UK’s food supply chain, invited us to the table.

“They work closely with their customers – including the likes of Wm Morrisons Supermarkets –  to deliver equipment and turnkey projects that strengthen businesses and ensure peace of mind from an operating point of view. We are now 18 months into our relationship which has gone so well that McArthur’s has now asked us to work on another four similar projects up and down the country.

“Their grain and materials handling knowledge is clearly what Morrisons are buying into and, at Murton Grange, we have delivered the structural and foundation drawings for the erection of a 70x25m facility which is now up and running.”

Much of the farmland is currently under crops and during the original planning application, officers and Park representatives were told that there had been limited investment in the site over recent years, and that Morrisons was keen the upgrade the facilities and, in doing so, give Murton Grange a new lease of life by restoring its viability and efficiency.

“This has been an excellent tripartite relationship, “ added Emyr, “that has not only opened a new engineering opportunity for HBPW, but has also played its part in delivering a successful outcome for all concerned.”