Petfood entrepreneur invests in former UK plant site

Roger Skinner, of dog food manufacturers Roger Skinner Ltd. in Stradbroke, England, UK, has purchased the 12-acre former site of Tenza Technologies in Saxmundham with plans to regenerate the area.

Roger Skinner, of dog food manufacturers Roger Skinner Ltd. in Stradbroke, England, UK, has purchased the 12-acre former site of Tenza Technologies in Saxmundham with plans to regenerate the area. Tenza went into administration in November 2014 and more than 70 people lost their jobs.

"What I have tried to do is to try and make sure we get people back to work," said Skinner. He initially purchased two industrial units from Tenza in 2006, where he operates Salter Pet Nutrition and Skinner Salter Partnership. On November 21, 2014, he completed the purchase of the Carlton Park site housing Tenza, but the company went into administration at the same time and he lost his tenants. Skinner said he plans to bring employment back to the buildings that housed Tenza, and so far has attracted two companies—Frimpeks, a Turkish firm, and Ryco, of Ireland—providing around 15 jobs, which are due to take up occupation by February. He hopes to find other tenants to occupy other parts of the site and says he has interest from various other parties.

Skinner said he hopes to become an incubator for new business. “There are more and more houses being built, but no jobs,” he said. “The idea is I can create a business park for start-ups. At the end of the day, it’s about creating employment.”

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