Ashtons Legal assist on formation of multi-million pound oat processing plant

A multidisciplinary team from Ashtons Legal has recently advised Camgrain Stores Limited in relation to their involvement in a new multi-million pound, state of the art, oat processing plant in Northamptonshire.

The other parties involved in the creation of the new entity Navara Oat Milling Limited were Frontier Agriculture Limited and Anglian Maltings (Holdings) Limited. Along with Camgrain Stores, the plant will be owned and run through the new Navara Oat Milling brand.

The Kettering plant, which has already started to be constructed, will be the largest, most modern oat-processing facility in Europe. Expected to complete in 2023, it will produce oat ingredients for the food and drink industry.

Advising Camgrain Stores on the venture were partners Paul Whittingham and Geoff Hazlewood from Ashtons’ Corporate and Commercial team. They were ably assisted by partner Simon Cunningham from the firm’s top-tier Agriculture & Estates team.

Paul Whittingham said: “Myself and the team at Ashtons’ are delighted to have assisted Camgrain and their co-operative members on this exciting project which will meet the ever-increasing demand for oat ingredients which we all use in our day-to-day lives.”

Simon Willis, Group CEO of Camgrain Stores adds “We would like to thank, Paul, Geoff, Simon and the team at Ashtons for their professional help and guidance completing the complex legal documents required to conclude the Navara Oat Milling, Joint Venture Agreement. The new joint venture will see the plant built alongside our existing Camgrain Advanced Processing Centre in Northants. This is great news for our farmer members as 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’s good to be bringing advanced technology to the UK food supply chain, adding value not just to farmers, but also to the local community.”

Pictured: (l-r) John Latham, Camgrain Chairman, Simon Willis, Group CEO, Andrew Lawson, Group FD, Philip Darke, Operations Director.

 More information about Camgrain Stores and their involvement in this project can be found by visiting https://www.camgrain.co.uk/navara-oat-milling-project-announcement