A FARM products company is continuing its expansion by taking over the van sales division of one of the largest firms of its type in Northern England.

Farmway, based in Piercebridge, County Durham – the North- East’s leading farmer-controlled agricultural business – has acquired the van sales arm of Hadrian Farm Services.

Hadrian Farm Services is the largest specialist supplier and installer of dairy equipment and ancillary products in the North.

Farmway secured a strategic shareholding in Hadrian – which has an office in Darlington – in 2005.

It said it had integrated the van operations into its agricultural business and is now able to deliver the full range of Farmway products to dairy farmers within the Farmway trading territory.

Staff working for Hadrian Farm Services in its van section will automatically transfer over to Farmway.

In its annual meeting at Headlam Hall, near Gainford, County Durham, in July, Farmway revealed that it had increased turnover to £48.9m and turned a profit of £230,000.

Peter Hull, chief executive officer at Farmway Limited, said: “Our priority is to bring North- East farmers relevant technical advice and support, competitive prices and an unbeatable customer service on a wide range of products.

“This acquisition offers Farmway a great opportunity to extend the services we are able to offer our farming customers.”

Law firm Ward Hadaway advised on the acquisition.

Its corporate finance partner Martin Hulls said: “Farmway and Hadrian Farm Services are confident that this transaction will enable both companies to develop and improve the range of products and services available to all farmers, meeting the needs of a changing industry.

“Ward Hadaway is very pleased to have assisted Farmway in completing this transaction.”

Farmway’s agricultural division is responsible for producing animal feeds, processing and dressing cereal seeds, the sale and supply of fertilisers, and the drying storage and marketing of grain, as well as the supply of a range of agricultural sundries.

The business has diversified into rural retailing in recent years, and now has nine Farmway Country Stores, selling products including pet and equine supplies, pest control and animal health products.