Two divisions of Liverpool food and agriculture group Edward Billington and Son report combined annual revenues of more than £363m. Tony McDonough reports
Two divisions of Liverpool food and agriculture group Edward Billington and Son are reporting big rises in both revenues and pre-tax profits.
For the 12 months to September 2, 2023, Carrs Billington Agriculture, which manufactures and supplies compound animal feed, saw revenues rise 12% to £187m.
In its report filed on Companies House the business said most of the revenue rise related to higher energy and commodity prices. It added the same factors had seen profit margins deteriorate “slightly”. However, pre-tax profits were up 70% to £5.6m.
Until 2022, Carrs Billington was jointly owned by Edward Billington and Son, which operates out of Cunard Building on Liverpool waterfront, and Carrs Group, based in Carlisle.
However, in August 2022 it was announced that Edward Billington would buy Carr’s 50% stake in the business for up to £44.5m. £43m was paid upfront with a further £1.5m dependent on performance over the subsequent two years.
As well as animal feed the business also provides farm machinery, fuel and central support and operates across the UK.
Edward Billington and Son, also trading as The Billington Group, was a family business formed in Liverpool in 1858 with founder Edward Billington importing tea, coffee and sugar into the UK. The business grew into a major trading venture.
It operated in a number of food and agriculture-related sectors throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. Following the COVID pandemic the business underwent a restructuring.
Today it employs around 1,500 people across four businesses. Two are Carrs Billington, English Provender Company, which makes sauces, dressings, condiments, mayonnaise and marinades for food manufacturers and retailers.
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A third, Billington Foods, supplies the UK’s foodservice, retail and B2B markets with chilled and frozen sauces, soups, frozen pies and desserts. The fourth, Criddle & Co, is an agricultural commodity trading business.
Criddle & Co has also posted its financial results for the 12 months to September 3, 2023, on Companies House in the last few days. It reports a 13% rise in revenues to £176.5m and a 57% increase in pre-tax profits to just over £3m.