Scottish expansion drives Carr's profit

CARR'S Milling Industries, the animal feed and agricultural machinery group, yesterday said expansion of its operations in Scotland had helped drive strong profits growth.

The Carlisle-based company, which owns fertiliser manufacturing and fuel operations north of the Border, saw pre-tax profits rise 27.4 per cent to 9 million in the year to the end of August. Group sales slipped 1.7 per cent to 344m due to over-capacity in the milling industry and a sharp rise in wheat prices.

The company said its acquisitions of Scotmin Nutrition and AC Burn in August from Buccleuch Group had contributed to the profit rise. Animal feed supplements business Scotmin, based in Ayr, and agricultural merchant AC Burn which operates across the Borders, were bought for 5.62m.