UK tanner announces acquisition
27/04/2015
This will create the largest vegetable tanning group in the UK, Claytons said on announcing the deal.
While the two businesses will continue to run as separate units, retaining the existing management teams, the deal will create an operation with a combined turnover exceeding £6 million. All members of staff will be retained from each company, creating a joint workforce of around 60.
Claytons managing director, Ian Walker (pictured), said: “While it is easy to see us as two very similar vegetable tanning units, our product ranges only have a narrow area of overlap. Claytons produces a wide range of bespoke leathers with a variety of end uses while Sedgwicks focuses on bridle and saddlery leathers. This is not surprising given that Claytons has developed from an industrial leather background while Sedgwicks has developed out of equestrian. Our processes, leathers and customers are distinct. So this is not an exercise in consolidation but in growth for two long-standing businesses.”
Richard Farrow, managing director of Sedgwicks, said his company was delighted with the outcome. He said: “Claytons understand our world of vegetable-tanned leathers and have a similar heritage to ours. There could be no better custodian to pass our business to.” Mr Farrow, the grandson of one of the early owners of Sedgwicks, is nearing retirement.
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