From July 1 ABB Grain assumed full management of PCL's New Plymouth mill on the north island, including production, procurement and administration and its NZ sales and marketing functions.

The latest acquisition is a further step in ABB's growth strategy for New Zealand, which includes plans to build a new feed mill in South Auckland and establish substantial grain and feed protein storage facilities in two ports on the north island.

In April, ABB Grain purchased high-profile maize player, NZ Grain & Seed Ltd, also known as TAG.

ABB Grain (NZ) Ltd's general manager, Terry O’Connor, said ABB would be investing heavily in new sales and marketing strategies.

"We see a real upside in growth for the PCL range of products and we are very excited about its future in the New Zealand market," he said.

"The acquisition of PCL's ruminant business forms part of ABB Grain’s New Zealand investment growth strategy.

"Soon, our purpose-built grain and protein store will be completed in New Plymouth.

"We're also well advanced in planning in order to build a further 30,000 tonne-capacity storage facility at Mount Maunganui besides a major new feed mill in South Auckland which will have an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes.

"These facilities, plus that at New Plymouth, will be ideally placed to service the key dairy areas of Taranaki and the Waikato.

"The purchase of PCL Feeds' ruminant business helps broaden our scope in supplying feed and proteins to a wide range of other stock."