Our History

Hero tractor

Origin History

1897

Polaroid

Horace Plunkett – 1854-1932. Founding father of modern Irish Agriculture.

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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

IAWS was floated on the Irish Stock Exchange - principally engaged in agri-nutrition and ambient food activities.

1997

Iaws foods logo

IAWS commenced a strategic repositioning into Lifestyle Foods.

2006

Mix gouldings and odlums

IAWS announced its intention to create a specialist focus around the original core agri-nutrition and ambient food businesses.

2007

Origin stock exchange

Origin Enterprises plc was established as a standalone business - focused on the original agribusiness and ambient food businesses of IAWS.

2008

Masstock

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

Bg seeds

Acquisition of GB Seeds - specialist provider of added value cereals, pulses and small seeds.

CSC Crop Protection

Acquisition of CSC Crop protection - direct to farm advisory and crop inputs distributor based in Scotland and the North East of England.

2010

Feed strategy

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

Rt

Acquisition of Rigby Taylor - a leading UK service provider supplying advice and technical product solutions to the professional sports turf, landscape and amenity sectors.

Uap

Acquisition Of United Agri Products - a premier provider of agronomy services to UK arable, fruit and vegetable growers.

Carrs

Acquisition of Carrs Fertilisers - engaged in the blending of raw fertiliser materials into finished product in England and Scotland.

2012

Agrii

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

Agroscope

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 logos

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.

Foliq

Poland Agri-Services expansion - acquisition of Kazgod, a manufacturer of micro-nutrition applications, which track users’ intake of basic vitamin and minerals.

Seeds

Acquisition of ReSo Seeds - one of the UK's leading mobile seed processing companies.

2016

Headland

Acquisition of Headland Amenity - a UK and European sports turf inputs manufacturer and supplier.

2017

Rhizafieldpic

Acquisition of Resterra Group – better known as AgSpace and Intelligent Precision Farming (IPF). Providing an important enhancement to Origin’s growing digital technology capabilities

Linemark

Acquisition of Linemark International - Sports and Amenity paint manufacturer.

Bunn

Acquisition of Bunn Fertilisser - UK prescription fertiliser blender, optimising the group’s UK fertiliser supply chain.

2018

Pillaert

Acquisition of Pillaert-Mekoson Group - provider of standard and prescription fertilisers in Belgium and surrounding regions.

Fortgreen

Acquisition of a 65 per cent controlling interest in the Brazilian based speciality nutrition and crop inputs business, Fortgreen Commercial Agricola Ltda

2019

Symbio 3x

Acquisition of Symbio - a UK manufacturer and distributor of microbial additive products, biostimulants and microbial fertilisers.

2021

Greentech

Acquisition of Green-Tech Limited - a leading UK supplier of landscape equipment and consumables to the landscape, forestry and construction sectors.

2022

Keystone logo

Acquisition of Keystone Environmental Limited - a UK-based independent ecology solutions provider specialising in the design, planning and delivery of complete ecological solutions.

2023

Agrigem

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.

Neo 1

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.