Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd

What Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd does

Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd is a family-owned agricultural supply and grain marketing business founded in 1883 in Chichester, West Sussex, operating as a private limited company under company number 388251. It provides a vertically integrated service to farmers across Southern England, spanning crop protection products (fungicides, herbicides sourced from ~40 manufacturers), fertiliser (including its own blended products manufactured at the Ultimate Fertilizers facility in Southampton), seed, agronomy advice backed by 15+ annual independent trials, grain sampling, and grain marketing through a dedicated Grain Desk. The company's go-to-market is sales-led, relying on a team of field agronomists who make on-farm recommendations and supply products via a network of chemical stores and a 70+ lorry fleet operated through wholly-owned subsidiary Churchill Freight Services.

Underlying technical assets include an owned solid fertiliser blending facility at Southampton Docks, the Merston research facility for crop trials, and digital tooling via Greenlight and Muddy Boots crop record software plus distribution of BASF's xarvio Field Manager digital farming platform. Logistics infrastructure is substantial: a 41,000 sqft grain store at Shoreham Port (expanded 2012) with 38,000+ tonnes storage capacity and 200,000 metric tonnes annual throughput, complemented by port relationships at Southampton, Avonmouth, Portland, and Poole. Grain marketing revenue is generated via trading margins, storage/handling fees, and contract structures including BAF Standard Terms, ex-farm pools, and buy-back contracts with end-buyers such as Rank Hovis and Spanish millers. The company serves SMB farmer customers as its primary segment, with a secondary focus on progressive/sustainable growers adopting low-carbon cereal programmes, and operates only in the United Kingdom despite limited grain export reach into continental Europe.

Name

Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd

Legal name

Bartholomews Agri Food Limited

Website

https://bartholomews.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd is a family-owned, 140-year-old agricultural supply and grain marketing business serving farmers across Southern England with crop protection, fertiliser, seed, agronomy advice, grain marketing, and logistics services backed by owned port storage and a 70-lorry haulage fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Inputs Supply

NAICS

Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42491), Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (424590), Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (424910)

SIC

Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock & Pasture Supply Retail (Feed Supplements, Animal Health Inputs) (AFABAJAJ)

Keywords

• Crop protection products
• Fertiliser supply
• Grain marketing services
• Agricultural inputs supply
• Agronomy advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chichester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Crop Protection & Inputs Supply: Supply of crop protection products (fungicides, herbicides) sourced from all major manufacturers, sold to farmers alongside agronomy advice. Products sourced from ~40 companies to ensure security of supply.
2. Fertiliser Sales & Blending: Sale of fertiliser products including own blended products at Southampton port, sourced from UK and global markets. Products include CF Fertilisers, BASF Limus, ICL Polysulphate and straights.
3. Seed Sales: Supply of seed varieties, with Bartholomews running independent variety trials across the south of England to evaluate performance under local conditions.
4. Grain Marketing & Trading: Grain marketing services including contract management, pool marketing, buy-back contracts, and physical grain trading through ports. Revenue generated through trading margins and storage/handling services.
5. Agronomy Services: Agronomy advice and consultancy services underpinning product sales and grain marketing. Supported by extensive annual trial programmes across the Southern region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd is a family-owned agricultural supply and grain marketing company that sources and distributes crop protection products, fertilisers (including own-blended products), seed, animal feed, and game-related products to farmers across Southern England. It complements this product distribution with independent agronomy advisory services, grain marketing contracts, port-based grain storage and export, and haulage logistics through its Churchill Freight Services subsidiary.

Product overview

Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd operates as a family-owned agricultural supply and grain marketing business founded in 1883, offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected products and services for farmers across Southern England. The core portfolio consists of six main department areas: Crop Protection (chemical supply and agronomy advice supported by Greenlight and Muddy Boots software), Fertiliser (nutrient management and blended products including BASF Limus and ICL Range from Southampton's Ultimate Fertilisers facility), Seed (variety trials and supply), Feed (animal feed), Game (game bird services), and Crop Marketing (grain marketing, trading, and logistics). These are complemented by Crop Research (over 15 independent trials across the south of England), Grain Sampling, Grain Logistics (via Churchill Freight Services with 70+ vehicles), Grain Storage Facilities (38,000+ tonnes at Shoreham Port), and Monday Market Briefings (market intelligence bulletins). The business integrates its product supply, agronomy advice, and research capabilities to offer complete farm input solutions from seed and fertiliser through to grain marketing, underpinned by its own logistics fleet and port facilities at Shoreham, Southampton, Avonmouth, Portland, and Poole.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Churchill Freight Services: In-house logistics company providing haulage and delivery services with a substantial fleet of vehicles offering next day deliveries across the region.
• Ultimate Fertilizers
• Churchill Bulk Services
• BAF

Products and services

• Crop Protection Agronomy service providing independent crop protection advice and supply of chemical products (fungicides, herbicides). As independent chemical buyers, Bartholomews recommends cost-effective products backed by a fleet of delivery vehicles and a network of chemical stores across the South of England, supported by Greenlight and Muddy Boots software.
• Fertiliser Nutrient management planning and fertiliser product supply, sourcing quality products from UK and global markets, with an in-house solid fertiliser blending facility at Southampton port (Ultimate Fertilisers). Offers blends, straights, and exclusive crop nutrition products including BASF Limus and ICL Range.
• Seed Seed supply and variety selection service. Bartholomews runs variety trials across the south of England testing old favourites and new varieties, including treated and untreated plots across multiple sites to evaluate variety characteristics for farmers.
• Feed Animal feed supply and related services for livestock farmers in the southern region.
• Game Specialist game bird services, supporting game management for sporting estates and farms.
• Crop Marketing Grain marketing service offering innovative farmer-friendly marketing contracts, engagement with domestic and international grain consumers, and logistical capabilities to bring markets closer to farmers, enhancing ex-farm value. Includes marketing options, grain markets, trading activities, grain documents, and events.
• Crop Research Independent agricultural research conducting extensive cereal variety and crop protection trials across Southern England. Running over 15 trials covering fertiliser use efficiency, potash sources, new fungicide chemistry, blackgrass solutions, resistant ryegrass, BYDV research, and varietal work on winter wheat and spring barley. Results are cited by government organisations and shared with farmers nationwide.
• Grain Sampling Grain sampling service to help farmers understand crop quality early, enabling informed decisions and access to the best possible grain markets.
• Agronomy Packages Bespoke agronomy service packages aligned with farm sustainability goals, including xarvio Field Manager digital farming platform, Low Carbon Cereal Production, and crop protection services.
• Grain Logistics Logistics and haulage services through Churchill Freight Services, operating a fleet of 70+ lorries daily. Access to export facilities at Avonmouth, Portland, Poole, Southampton, and Shoreham ports, with extensive grain storage at ports and inland locations.
• Grain Storage Facilities Grain storage at Shoreham Port (over 38,000+ tonnes capacity, expanded in 2012 with 41,000 sqft grain store), Southampton, Avonmouth, and inland at Fisherton, Warminster. The Shoreham facility is described as the largest dockside grain store in the South of England.
• Grain Marketing Contracts (BAF) Flexible grain marketing solutions including BAF Storage contracts, Ex Farm pools, BAF Standard Terms (for oats and malting barley), and Buy Back contracts for specific crops such as winter oats, malting barley, and specialised wheat varieties for Spanish buyers.
• Monday Market Briefings Regular market update bulletins providing grain market insights, trends, and analysis delivered as a newsletter (Business Pulse) and online updates covering commodity markets, grain trading, and crop marketing developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15 independent crop trials conducted annually across the south of England, with data cited by leading government organisations.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CF FertiliserscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBartholomews are proud partners with CF Fertilisers, a leading global and UK manufacturer. Through this partnership they offer customers high quality UK-manufactured blue bag products supported by technical advice from the Bartholomews team. CF Fertilisers is a major UK nitrogen fertiliser manufacturer.
• BASFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with BASF for Limus fertiliser product, a brand-new product to the market. Bartholomews ran trials on Limus in 2019 prior to market launch. Also distributes xarvio Field Manager, BASF's digital farming platform, as part of agronomy packages.
• ICL (Innovative Crop Nutrition)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with ICL for the Polysulphate range of fertiliser products. Bartholomews ran trials on Polysulphate on barley in 2019. ICL is a global fertiliser manufacturer.
• Shoreham Port FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShoreham Port is Bartholomews' home port. The collaboration, expanded in 2012 with a 41,000 sqft grain store, has given Shoreham widely recognised status as a preferred origin for quality grain shipments. Bartholomews handles up to 200,000mt of grains per year through this facility.
• Bristol Port CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBartholomews established a relationship with the Bristol Port Company at Avonmouth, Britain's most centrally located deep sea port, enabling grain export operations from 2016.
• Spanish MillerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing trading relationships with Spanish millers who influence wheat variety recommendations. Direct trading links with continental end-users create added value for growers.
• Rank HoviscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor domestic flour miller located at Southampton alongside Bartholomews' Ultimate Fertilisers facility. A key domestic grain buyer representing a significant market for UK wheat.
• Major UK Flour MillerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBartholomews maintains close ties with domestic flour millers, working in partnership to understand gristing requirements and guide growers to produce crops that meet specific quality targets.
• Avonmouth, Portland, Poole PortsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExport facilities at Avonmouth, Portland and Poole complement Bartholomews' home port at Shoreham. The unique position of Portland and Poole on the South Coast near the English Channel makes them excellent locations for exports to continental Europe.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hutchinsons: UK crop production specialist providing agronomy advice, crop protection supply, and trials-based research. Directly comparable on the independent agronomy service and trials programme elements of Bartholomews' offering.
• Mole Valley Farmers: UK agricultural cooperative supplying livestock feed, crop inputs, fertiliser, and farm supplies to farmers. Comparable on the multi-product farm supply model, though with greater livestock orientation.
• Openfield: UK grain marketing and farm inputs cooperative serving arable farmers nationally with grain storage, marketing, and input supply services. Direct comparable on the grain marketing and farmer supply dimensions of Bartholomews' business.
• NWF Group: UK agricultural products and fuel distributor supplying feed, fertiliser, and seed to farmers, with grain trading through its NWF Agriculture division. Comparable on UK farm input supply and grain trading.
• Wynnstay Group: AIM-listed UK agricultural supplier offering fertiliser, seed, crop protection, animal feed, and grain marketing to farmers. Comparable on multi-product farm supply and grain marketing operations in the UK.
• Agrii: UK agronomy business providing crop protection advice, fertiliser recommendations, seed supply, and precision farming services. Comparable to Bartholomews on the agronomy-led service model and crop inputs distribution.
• Frontier Agriculture: Major UK grain marketing and crop inputs business operating across England, offering farmers agronomy advice, crop protection, fertiliser, seed, and grain marketing services. Closest direct peer given similar vertically integrated farm supply model.

Broad incumbents

• Viterra: Global grain merchant and agricultural supply business (now part of Glencore) with significant UK grain origination and marketing operations. Overlaps with Bartholomews on grain trading but with vastly broader international reach.
• Yara UK: UK subsidiary of Yara International, one of the world's largest fertiliser manufacturers, supplying nitrogen fertilisers and crop nutrition solutions. Comparable as a major fertiliser supplier but operating at manufacturer scale rather than local distribution.
• ADM Agriculture: UK arm of global agribusiness ADM, providing grain origination, crop inputs, and agricultural services across Britain. Overlaps with Bartholomews in grain marketing and crop inputs but operates at much greater scale and with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bartholomews-agri-food-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bartholomews Agri Food Ltd