A 134-YEAR-OLD business has been saved from closure.
Dicksons Pet Foods in Hanley can trace its roots back to 1878.
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From left, director Jo Barratt, sales worker David Barratt, director Peter Barratt and sales manager David Grice.
Now it has been bought out of liquidation by Jo and Peter Barratt, who run Brookside Pork Farm and Fishery in Betley.
They are transferring the business from its Far Green Industrial Estate home to their base in Betley.
Jo said: “Dicksons has been in business for more than 100 years. They originally owned the corn mill across the road which was knocked down for housing about eight years ago.
“We use to buy our fish pellets from them and we thought it was a good opportunity to take that side on, and now we have taken over the rest of business as well.”
The company will be renamed Brookside Pet Foods but Jo and Peter are planning to retain its Just Delicious dog food brand, which was developed and launched by previous owner Tony Dickson.
Jo said the couple are pleased to have been able to keep such a long-established company going.
She said: ” Mr Dickson himself is 70 and it was started by his grandfather.
“He has put so much effort and money in and we feel like we are in a good position to run it.
“Our farm is a family business. We’ve been in farming for 70-plus years and had the fishery for 30-plus years.”
As well as the Just Delicious brand Jo and Peter have taken over the wholesale and retail side, which sells and distributes a range of food for horses, dogs and small animals plus a bait used by anglers and fishermen.
Peter said: “The potential is fantastic. Our plan is to have a shop at the farm and also do deliveries.”
Jo added: “The staff had already been made redundant. We did get in touch with them but thankfully most of them had found another job.
“Initially it will just be myself and Peter running the business, but we will probably be looking to take someone else on soon.”
Dicksons ceased trading in May after cashflow problems.
Liquidator Allan Cadman, of Poppleton Appleby, appointed valuation specialist Charterfields to dispose of its assets.
Charterfields director Ian Maycock said:
“Mr Barratt spotted the opportunity to revive the business, which is complementary to his existing interests.”
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