ForFarmers UK seeks approval to expand feed storage at Penrith mill

UK – ForFarmers UK has applied for planning permission to expand storage capacity at its feed mill in Penrith, northwest England, in a move the company says could support higher feed production and help safeguard future jobs at the site.

The United Kingdom subsidiary of Netherlands-based ForFarmers NV has submitted an application to Westmorland and Furness Council seeking approval to construct a single-storey extension at its existing Penrith facility. 

According to local reports from Penrith Town, the proposed additional warehousing would be built on land currently used as a car parking area within the mill site.

In planning documents supporting the application, ForFarmers UK said it has operated a “successful business” at the Penrith location for several years and now requires additional storage to improve operational efficiency. 

The extension would create more warehousing space while freeing up room in existing buildings for more effective use, potentially enabling the company to increase feed output over time.

The company added that the scale, siting and construction materials of the new building are expected to limit any impact on the surrounding area. 

It also noted that because the extension would be built on hard standing, construction activities are not expected to have any adverse effects on local biodiversity.

While no timeline has been disclosed for the planning decision, approval would mark a further investment in ForFarmers’ UK operations at a time when the wider group is reporting strong financial and operational momentum.

Backed by a growing European group

ForFarmers UK forms part of ForFarmers NV, one of Europe’s largest animal feed manufacturers.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the group employs close to 3,000 people and operates production facilities across the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.

With annual production of approximately 9 million metric tons of feed, ForFarmers NV ranked as the joint second largest feed company in Europe by volume in Feed Strategy’s 2024 Top Feed Companies survey.

The group’s most recent published financial results, covering the third quarter of 2025, highlighted continued growth across several markets. 

Chief executive officer Pieter Wolleswinkel described the company’s performance during the period as “very strong,” pointing to gains in market share and improved results from affiliates in Poland and the U.K., alongside strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

On a like-for-like basis, total group feed volumes increased by 5.6% year-on-year, while compound feed production rose by 2.6%. Gross profit for the quarter reached just over EUR154 million (US$181 million), representing a 21% increase compared with the same period in 2024.

Growth has also been supported by expansion activity. Toward the end of 2025, ForFarmers NV completed the acquisition of Dutch feed producer Beukelaar Diervoerders, which is being integrated into ForFarmers Nederland BV to strengthen the group’s broiler and pig feed business. Earlier in the year, ForFarmers and Team Agrar also extended their joint venture in Germany.

If approved, the Penrith storage expansion would align with these broader growth ambitions, reinforcing ForFarmers’ commitment to its UK footprint while supporting increased efficiency and capacity at the local level.

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