Mission Statement
A modern family business, leading the UK's ruminant sector by delivering outstanding products, people, partnerships and performance.
Company Values
5
Core Values
Our Values
Our expectations from our team and those who represent us, epitomising our company.
Growth
The DN Team are encourage to learn, scueed and develop.
Responsive
The DN Team aim to react quickly to situations and opportunities for the benefit of our stakeholders.
Community
The DN Team actively support each other, our customers and the wideragricultural community.
Excellence
The DN Team aim to be outstanding in all areas of the business.
Integrity
The DN Team strive to do the right thing.
Our Core Business Values
Responsive
The DN Team aim to react quickly to situations and opportunities for the benefit of our stakeholders.
Community
The DN Team actively support each other, our customers and the wider agricultural community.
Excellence
The DN Team aim to be outstanding in all areas of the business.
Integrity
The DN Team strive to do the right thing.
Growth
Responsibility
The DN Team holds itself accountable for their words and actions.
The History of Dugdale Nutrition
The origins of the business go as far back as 1850, when Mr John Dugdale was a tenant at Waddington Post Office. The property was purchased in 1854. John’s son Benjamin joined the business and in 1880, the grocery and Post Office was expanded, retailing grains, oil cakes and by-products. These were delivered by train to Clitheroe and collected by the horse and cart. In 1892, the family became agents of Messrs J. Bibby & Sons, retailing their manufactured feeds.
In the early 1900’s, the business then made the move to an open warehouse and yard next to the station, allowing customers to collect feed on their way home from the milk train. By 1916, Benjamin had retired due to ill health and his son William took over, aged just 20. In 1928, a fire totally destroyed the warehouse and a new site was purchased – Waterloo Corn Mills at Well Terrace, Clitheroe.
The feed business continued to expand and William’s three sons John, George and Billy gradually joined the firm in the years leading up to World War II. Benjamin Dugdale died in 1934. In 1936, W. W. Dugdale & Sons Ltd started the family’s farming enterprise at Cheethall Farm, Edisford. The mixed farming venture gave the family a unique insight into the needs of their customers.
Following the return of George from the army, the family continued to act as agents for J. Bibby & Sons until 1957. During the early 60’s, Roger and Stephen Dugdale joined their fathers and Uncle Billy in the business. The production facility at Waterloo was then expanded and improved. In 1965 the company began to produce complete dog food.
Towards the end of the 70’s, it became obvious that the production facility needed modernising. Operating with HGV’s and manufacturing processes did not fit in well in a housing area and in 1978, land was purchased at Salthill Quarry. In 1980, the farming enterprise was sold in order to pay for the building of Bellman Mill.
The new mill was opened in 1981 and several hundred people came to a series of open days between the 13th and 15th May. Sweet n’ Dry and Home n’ Dry were developed as forage additives throughout the 80’s and early 90’s. In 2001, the business was producing 35,000 tonnes of feed per year, by 2009 this had grown to 100,000 tonnes.
The DN Blend Facility was opened in summer 2014, enabling us to produce over 50,000 tonnes of blends per year. The installation of the ‘DSL system’ in the mill, enables us to produce more tonnes per hour. In Autumn 2016 we began operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Continued investment for the future
Over £15.4 million has been invested in the business over the past decade and Dugdale Nutrition’s current output is over 240,000 tonnes of feed.
In August 2017, Dugdale Nutrition acquired 100% of the share capital of B Tickle and Sons Ltd, based at Speke, Liverpool. This acquisition brings together two family businesses with a combined 330 years’ of trading history supplying the farmers of Northern England and beyond.
Feed is manufactured 24 hours a day and delivered to farm 363 days a year, operating from the Clitheroe, Lancashire and our Speke, Liverpool manufacturing facilities. This allows us a geographical reach to farms from the South West of Scotland, across to Northumberland, down to the Midlands and across into Wales.
In February 2021, B. Dugdale & Sons Ltd acquired the remaining 50% share capital of FiveF Alka Ltd. B. Dugdale & Son Limited played an integral part in the development, launch and manufacture of Home n’ Dry technology from the very beginning and the two-family businesses continued to work closely together over the years.
The acquisition of the remaining 50% of FiveF Alka Ltd is therefore a very organic progression within the evolution of alkasystems and allows for further development opportunities going forward.
In 2024 we announced the acquisition of RBC Agri Ltd, a grass seed manufacturing and animal feed business based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire. From a chance phone call 6 years ago, to now owning the entire share capital of RBC, this is a relationship that has moved fast and shows the intrinsic trust between both parties. The RBC way of doing business aligns perfectly with the DN mission of delivering outstanding People, Products, Performance and Partnerships.
In the Summer of 2025, big changes are planned for both mills, with two new 7932-9 CPM pellet presses being installed – one at each site. The replacement of older, smaller presses with new, quick die change, larger presses should see a significant lift in output and continues our commitment to quality products.
Commited to British Agriculture
The business remains 100% family owned and independent and our continued investment in strategically aligned acquisitions, in our people, our fleet and our manufacturing facilities, alongside our aim of sustainable profitability, will enable Dugdale Nutrition to meet all customers’ future needs.
Under the leadership of the sixth generation, we are wholly committed to supporting and supplying the British ruminant sector. With our flagship product, Home n’ Dry, we are continuing to develop our presence in the European market.