The United Pig Cooperative (UPC), a ground-breaking merger between three marketing groups – Scottish Pig Producers, Scotlean Pigs and Thames Valley Cambac – formally launched on Sunday.
The expectation is that the new cooperative, which was was announced in January, will enhance market effectiveness, operational efficiency, and member support, ensuring a sustainable future for independent producers across the UK.
UPC will be farmer-led, with nine producer directors representing all UK production regions. Phil Woodall, formerly of TVC, and Andy McGowan, from SPP, will be the co-general managers initially, with a recruitment process due to start for a single long-term general manager. The new business will operate from TVC’s head office in Wallingford, in Oxfordshire.
Thames Valley Cambac was already the largest pig marketing cooperative in the UK, formed in the 1970’s and supplying all leading processors.
Scottish Pig Producers had provided cooperative pig marketing services for members across Scotland and Northern Ireland, having started as Grampian Pig Producers in 1979.
Scotlean Pigs has been marketing pigs and providing other support services cooperatively with members in Scotland and England since 1980.
Commenting in January, former TVC chair Robert Beckett, who will chair UPC’s board of directors, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to bring these three businesses together which will further increase our ability to add value to not only the members but also our processor customers as well.”
Roderic Bruce, chair of SPP, said: “With the rapid rationalisation we are seeing across the whole supply chain the need for this merger is clear. By taking the best of all three groups we will create an organisation that can best serve its customers and members for the future.”
Richard Butterworth, chair of Scotlean Pigs said “This move will provide a better service for all our members and our customers. United Pig Cooperative represents a bold step forward for the UK pig farming industry, ensuring that independent farms can thrive in an increasingly integrated market.”
The new cooperative will be the leading provider of support services to independent farmers in the UK pig supply chain. The strategic move will aim to enhance market effectiveness, operational efficiency, and member support, ensuring a sustainable future for independent producers across the UK, the official announcement stated.