SANGERFIELD – Blue Seal Feeds, Inc. of Londonderry, N.H. and I.L. Richer Company, Inc. of Sangerfield announced today that they are working on an agreement for Blue Seal to purchase the assets of I.L. Richer. They hope to complete the transaction within the next 30 days.
I.L. Richer Company, Inc. is a major manufacturer and supplier of dairy feed products and services to the central and eastern New York dairy market. The company’s origin dates back to the late 1800s when Irving L. Richer purchased and operated a flour mill in New Berlin. Today, the company led by John Mitchell, the great grandson of I. L. Richer, owns and operates animal feed production facilities in Sangerfield, Adams Center, and Central Bridge.
Like Blue Seal, Richer Feeds is a regional leader, setting the standard for the marketing, manufacturing and distribution of dairy feed products and related services to agriculture. To meet the high standards set by the company, Richer has employed and developed excellent sales, nutrition, customer service, production and delivery teams. These teams, in combination with the Blue Seal Feeds teams, will join forces to provide best in class products and services to the dairy market.
Mitchell, commenting on the pending transaction, said, “My family has taken great pride in serving the New York agriculture community for over a century. It is very important to us to find the type of organization that shares our core beliefs of dedication to our employees, customers, and communities. Blue Seal has that same commitment and the strength to continue to develop and grow for many years to come.”
Randy Schwalke, president of Blue Seal Feeds, Inc., stated today, “Blue Seal is excited to add Richer Feeds to our organization. The combination of the strengths of the two companies will continue to ensure that the northeast dairy industry will have a supplier who provides the high quality products and services that they have relied upon for 140 years.”
Blue Seal Feeds, Inc., headquartered in Londonderry, has roots dating back to 1868 when it manufactured horse feed in Lawrence, Mass. Today, it is a major manufacturer of dairy feed for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Blue Seal also produces and distributes a full line of high quality horse feeds, pet foods, farm feeds, wild bird seeds, lawn seeds, and related products. Blue Seal products are sold through over one thousand independent dealers. Blue Seal’s By Nature and Brandon Farms natural and organic pet food brands are sold through major pet specialty chains, grocery store chains and independent retailers. Blue Seal’s lines of products provide diets of the highest quality, using only ingredients that deliver the best nutritional benefits.
Blue Seal and Richer believe that teaming up and operating as a single-focused organization will assure the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic dairy producers with visionary leadership, unsurpassed nutritional expertise, high-quality technology-focused manufacturing, efficient distribution and superior customer value.
Blue Seal Feeds, Inc. is a subsidiary of family-owned Muscatine Foods Corporation of Muscatine, Iowa. Muscatine Foods also owns Kent Feeds, Inc. of Muscatine, Iowa, Grain Processing Corporation of Muscatine, Iowa, and Precision Foods, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri.