Our History
Origin History
1897
Horace Plunkett – 1854-1932. Founding father of modern Irish Agriculture.
Origin history dates to 1897 - directly descended from the Irish Agricultural Wholesale society “IAWS”, established to supply inputs and supplies to Irish co-operatives.
1988
IAWS was floated on the Irish Stock Exchange - principally engaged in agri-nutrition and ambient food activities.
1997
IAWS commenced a strategic repositioning into Lifestyle Foods.
2006
IAWS announced its intention to create a specialist focus around the original core agri-nutrition and ambient food businesses.
2007
Origin Enterprises plc was established as a standalone business - focused on the original agribusiness and ambient food businesses of IAWS.
2008
Acquisition of Masstock - establishing a direct on farm relationship to complement the Group’s B2B businesses which historically sold inputs to Co-operatives and wholesalers.
2009
Acquisition of GB Seeds - specialist provider of added value cereals, pulses and small seeds.
Acquisition of CSC Crop protection - direct to farm advisory and crop inputs distributor based in Scotland and the North East of England.
2010
Establishment of an all-Ireland grain and feed handling, logistics and trading platform through the integration of Origin’s feed business in the Republic of Ireland with the feed business of Origin and Barnett in Northern Ireland
2011
Acquisition of Rigby Taylor - a leading UK service provider supplying advice and technical product solutions to the professional sports turf, landscape and amenity sectors.
Acquisition Of United Agri Products - a premier provider of agronomy services to UK arable, fruit and vegetable growers.
Acquisition of Carrs Fertilisers - engaged in the blending of raw fertiliser materials into finished product in England and Scotland.
2012
The Group amalgamated its UK agronomy services businesses under a new identity Agrii.
The Agrii brand expresses the essential attributes of our agronomy services business; a commitment to research based agri-intelligence, the expertise of our agronomists and the increased power of individuals working together for the benefit of farmers.
2014
Ukraine Agri-Services expansion - acquisition of a controlling interest in the Ukraine based agronomy services company Agroscope. Providing high specification inputs, and advisory support to arable and root crop growers.
2015
Romania Agri-Services expansion - acquisition of two agronomy services businesses Redoxim and Comfert, providing agronomy services, macro and micro inputs to arable, vegetable and horticulture growers.
Poland Agri-Services expansion - acquisition of Kazgod, a manufacturer of micro-nutrition applications, which track users’ intake of basic vitamin and minerals.
Acquisition of ReSo Seeds - one of the UK's leading mobile seed processing companies.
2016
Acquisition of Headland Amenity - a UK and European sports turf inputs manufacturer and supplier.
2017
Acquisition of Resterra Group – better known as AgSpace and Intelligent Precision Farming (IPF). Providing an important enhancement to Origin’s growing digital technology capabilities
Acquisition of Linemark International - Sports and Amenity paint manufacturer.
Acquisition of Bunn Fertilisser - UK prescription fertiliser blender, optimising the group’s UK fertiliser supply chain.
2018
Acquisition of Pillaert-Mekoson Group - provider of standard and prescription fertilisers in Belgium and surrounding regions.
Acquisition of a 65 per cent controlling interest in the Brazilian based speciality nutrition and crop inputs business, Fortgreen Commercial Agricola Ltda
2019
Acquisition of Symbio - a UK manufacturer and distributor of microbial additive products, biostimulants and microbial fertilisers.
2021
Acquisition of Green-Tech Limited - a leading UK supplier of landscape equipment and consumables to the landscape, forestry and construction sectors.
2022
Acquisition of Keystone Environmental Limited - a UK-based independent ecology solutions provider specialising in the design, planning and delivery of complete ecological solutions.
2023
Acquisition of Agrigem Limited - the largest independent specialist supplier and advisor of ground care products throughout the UK and Ireland which extends our product range and broadens our offering in the Amenity sector.
Acquisition of Neo Environmental - a multi-disciplinary consultancy business that provides market-leading planning, environmental and technical advice to a range of clients, primarily in the energy and infrastructure sectors across the UK & Ireland.