“It was a great honour.”
The Princess Royal has officially opened HJ Lea’s recently refurbished mill in Cheshire.
Horse feed brand D&H was acquired by HJ Lea Oakes and the Lea family in 2020.
The royal visit coincided with the 350th anniversary of the Lea family’s milling heritage and included a stop at sister company Morning Foods.
HJ Lea moved its Equine and Specialist Feed business to Malpas in 2013. The Princess Royal was introduced to the latest advancements underway there.
The mill sits in 25 acres earmarked for crop and feeding trials. The company plans an extension to incorporate new technologies, more warehousing and green energy production.
The Princess Royal also saw plans for a laboratory. To be built in collaboration with Morning Foods, it will focus on food safety and clean sport.
Said Edward Lea, managing director of HJ Lea: "It was a great honour to welcome Her Royal Highness and to celebrate this new chapter in our history.
“The refurbished mill is one step in our ambition to lead, innovate and to champion sustainability in equine nutrition,"
The Princess Royal – who celebrated her 75th birthday last Friday (15 August) - unveiled a commemorative plaque during her visit on 29 July.
