Work is under way to construct a state-of-the-art oat processing plant in Northamptonshire.
The plant, being built on farmland between Corby and Kettering, will be the largest and most modern oats processing facility in Europe. On completion in 2023, it will meet and accelerate the already growing demand for oat ingredients in the food and drink industry.
Navara Oat Milling is a joint venture between crop production and grain marketing company Frontier Agriculture, the farmers co-operative Camgrain and food and drink ingredient manufacturer Anglia Maltings Holdings.
Frontier Agriculture will supply all oats processed at the plant via growers in the surrounding region, Camgrain farmer members and its network of farm traders. The new facility is expected to create 60 new jobs once completed and a further 60 during its construction.
The mill, sited next to Camgrain’s Advanced Processing Centre in a key arable region, ensures the minimising of food miles. Its transport links provide good access not only to oat growers but also to key food and drink manufacturers that use cereal-based ingredients.
Navara Oat Milling’s chairman Mark Aitchison said the new venture would deliver supply chain efficiency and the investment will help to meet the increasing demand for oat ingredients in healthy food products and non-dairy drinks. “Our collective vision is to build and grow a dedicated oat supply chain, bringing farmer and food manufacturer closer together and delivering improvements that benefit each sector and the environment.
“We will work together on realising the huge potential of oats, embracing all that they can deliver in provenance, traceability and sustainability. Collaboration with farmers supplying the new mill will see value added in areas such as agronomy advice, seed variety choice and development, quality and sustainability.”
Camgrain believes the ‘flagship’ facility will bring greater opportunities for its members. Chief executive Simon Willis said: “It expands opportunities for them with an increasingly sought-after cereal grain and will involve them in projects such as the development of new varieties. It is good to be bringing advanced technology to the UK food supply chain, adding value not just to farmers but also to the local community.”
Anglia Maltings Holdings creates natural, nutritious flours, flakes, mixes, sprouted grains and malt extracts for the bakery and wider food industries. Group finance director George Thompson said: “We have long desired to do more with this exceptional cereal. Navara Oat Milling provides the perfect opportunity. By combining our experience, expertise and ambition, we can explore the true potential of oats in terms of innovation for existing oat ingredients processors and exploring new market opportunities.“
Navara Oat Milling is launching at a time when the importance of nutritious, plant-based ingredients has become more widely recognised. Provenance and sustainability are part of that agenda and domestically grown and processed oats are part of the answer, say the partners. Navara Oat Milling will be well positioned to support food and drinks manufacturers by providing consumers with healthy and nutritious choices, they add.
The project has full planning permission from North Northamptonshire Council. Construction and project manager expert T H White is the main construction contractor for the project.
