Joined companies set to become powerful force in speciality and niche crops.
TCI, a US based world leader in the evaluation, development, commercialisation, and delivery of specialty crops, today announces the acquisition of Premium Crops Ltd, a leading provider of premium and specialist crops, based in Hampshire. Premium Crops focuses on spring and winter linseed, red wheat, canary seed, millet, and naked oats, while TCI’s portfolio includes premium-priced crops such as high erucic acid rapeseed, borage, and echium.
Perfect partnership
For the two companies, the partnership seemed obvious—both companies operating in the same niche with similar objectives and ideals, yet without overlap or conflict in crops.
Andrew Hebard, president and CEO of TCI says, “We believe this merger adds value to growers, customers, and end users alike. We are thrilled to partner with a dynamic team that has such a great depth of expertise in speciality crops. Both sides benefit from deeper speciality crop knowledge and expertise, plus great synergies. It really is a perfect partnership,” Hebard says.
“We were looking for a strategic partner,” says Nigel Bazeley, founder and director at Premium Crops, “and TCI was the obvious candidate. Thanks to a much broader spectrum of premium-priced crops, we can now offer our growers a greater presence on the farm. Growers will be provided with more rotation options, the highest quality seed, outstanding agronomic support, prompt and secure payments, and preferential access to premium crop contracts.”
Expanded offerings and support for growers
The acquisition presents significant new opportunities for growers. “Speciality crops provide growers a way to differentiate their products and expertise, adding value whilst reducing their risks,” Hebard explains. “Demand for these crops is growing across multiple industries and we believe these premium crops represent a small yet key component of the future of a diversified and specialised arable agricultural market globally.”
New pipeline potential
The acquisition is expected to further propel TCI’s research and discovery of innovative plant-based products for industry, such as AHIFLOWER™ Oil, a proprietary, branded oil developed by TCI. Introduced in 2012, AHIFLOWER Oil offers one of the richest-known natural plant sources of omega-3, and is anticipated to have application in nutritional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products
Invisible transition
Premium Crops will continue to operate as it has, maintaining its name, people and website. “Operationally to our suppliers and customers, we fully expect this change will be invisible,” says Nigel Bazeley. .
About TCI
TCI is the parent company of a group of businesses that are global leaders in the evaluation, development, commercialization, and delivery of plant oils and products from high-value speciality crops. The company offers a full spectrum of expert services relating to these crops and crop products and serves the specialist nutrition, medical food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial chemical industries. With offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, TCI supplies customers around the world with safe, sustainable, traceable, and cost-competitive crop-derived products.
For more information on TCI, visit www.techcrops.com.
