A Suffolk-based grass seed business has bought a "likeminded" Scottish company - to create a £21m business with a 75-strong workforce.

All 24 employees at Watson Seeds will remain as it joins forces with Bury St Edmunds-based Barenbrug UK.

The acquisition for an undisclosed sum takes Barenbrug turnover to close to £21m  - with around £4m of that coming from Watson.

Watson was founded 33 years ago by third-generation seedsman Johnny Watson, the company. It also comprises Seed Logistics and GroGreen and enjoys a loyal customer following with its Castle range of seed mixtures.

Barenbrug UK is part of Dutch business the Royal Barenbrug Group and was established in the UK in 1983. It supplies more than 4,000 tonnes grass seed each year for UK amenity and agriculture sectors.

Paul Johnson, managing director at Barenbrug UK, welcomed the deal.

“The sale of Watson Seeds, Seed Logistics and GroGreen to Barenbrug UK reflects the long-standing strength of the relationship that exists between these businesses,” he said.

“Barenbrug has long been one of the main seed suppliers to these companies and we are very closely aligned in ethos and values - family-owned businesses with the emphasis on integrity, quality and service, and focusing on the customer’s needs.”

The acquisition was a "significant step" for Barenbrug’s UK operation, he said.

“By giving us a much stronger offering in Scotland, we will complement our existing geographies and strengthen our position across the United Kingdom.

“Watson Seeds has an established on-farm trials and variety observation programme, which when combined with our own Scottish variety trials programme will considerably enrich our grass-breeding programme.

Johnny Watson, founder of Watson Seeds, expressed his delight at the sale, which he described as a new and exciting chapter for the company.

“Both of our families have a history within the herbage seed trade stretching for more than a century," he said. "I have nothing but heartfelt enthusiasm in seeing the business acquired by a company who truly understands our trade."

It was "a meeting of two likeminded companies known for their commitment to excellence in grass", he added. 

“Over my lifetime I’ve appreciated and respected the work of Barenbrug, and I’ve always thought that we would have the potential to be a great team together.

“It will very much be business as usual for Watson Seeds. Our ambitious plan for continued growth and development will benefit from access to the resources and support of the global Barenbrug group.”

“I’ve spent a long time on trial sites, assessing Barenbrug material to compare its performance against the rest. I’m increasingly encouraged by Barenbrug’s materials, and how its advances in grass breeding are so well suited to our farming environment."

Mark Sinclair, managing director of Seed Logistics., said: “I’m delighted that we’ve found an acquisition partner of Barenbrug’s calibre.

"The business has been a solid performer in recent years, and we can now look forward to further consolidating that growth with the support and backing of the global Barenbrug group.”

Barenbrug UK, Watson Seeds, Seed Logistics and GroGreen will continue to function as separate businesses and identities.