With the BETA Feed & NOPS Conference fast approaching, we took the opportunity to speak to Mark Watson from Fox Feeds, one of the gold sponsors of this year’s conference, to tell us more about the company, staying power, and why conferences are so important…
Can you tell us about Fox Feeds and what you do? Why are you different and what makes you unique?
We are farmers first, growing crops to produce animal feeds across different markets. We grow green crops which are managed and harvested by our own staff so we can maintain the highest quality standards. We are the South East regional producer for the HorseHage and Mollichaff brands, and we dry crops to supply our Chaff Mill and to sell as a raw material to other feed manufacturers. We contract manufacture forage-based feeds for other horse feed brands too. As Fox Feeds, we do not have our own brand so therefore we do not compete directly with our contract manufacturing customers.
Horsehage and Mollichaff continue to be really popular brands- what gives them that staying power?
Horsehage was the original dust free forage, manufactured through our unique in house build packing plants – never rebaled, 100% quality guaranteed. Mollichaff provides a high-quality value for money product, filling a gap in the market.
What are your main areas of concern for the industry at the moment?
Managing ever-increasing operating costs while trying to provide an affordable product to the end consumer, in a market where horse ownership numbers are falling.
As a gold sponsor, you obviously believe in the power of conferences such as this. Why have you decided to support the BETA Feed & NOPS Conference? Why should people come either in person or online?
The equine feed Industry is relatively small in the UK and, as such, it is important we work together to solve our common problems and lobby with a single voice. The BETA Feed Conference provides a great annual platform to do this as well as networking with existing and new members of the industry.
To find out more about Fox Feeds, see www.foxfeeds.com
