STAFF at ForFarmers Exeter Mill enjoyed a celebration as the site marked 50 years of operation earlier this month. 

Built in 1974 as part of a big development for Unilever which owned BOCM Silcock, ForFarmers operates out of Exeter Mill at Sowton Industrial Estate. 

The mill's design was replicated across seven mills in the year it was built, Pauls Agriculture and BOCM Silcock then merged in 1992 to form BOCM PAULS before becoming ForFarmers in 2012.

The 50th celebration event was attended by ex-employees, merchants and hauliers. Guests enjoyed walking tours of the mill, a hog roast, band and a raffle. 

Exeter operations manager, Nick Parsons, said: "We were very pleased with the day. It was brilliant for old friends and colleagues to get together and reminisce about time spent at the mill.

“The operations at the mill have changed over time. In the early years, they would have been dealing with a lot of bagged volume, but now we deal in much more in bulk.

“The mill has survived many ups and downs in the agricultural sector. It has seen the BSE crisis, Foot and Mouth and Covid, when our drivers and mill staff continue to work as essential workers.

“The mill has had a huge part to play in agriculture locally. For many farmers, they can’t remember a time without it being here.”