EGGLESCLIFFE farmer's son, Edward Smith, has acquired Aberdeenshire animal feed company Norvite from Provimi for an undisclosed sum in a management buyout.

Mr Smith, 35, grew up in Egglescliffe Village where his father, John, and younger brother, Simon, continue to run the family farm.

After gaining a BSc in agricultural biochemistry and nutrition from Newcastle University, he trained as a nutritionist with Darlington-based Farmway before joining Norvite as a commercial nutritionist in 1998.

Over the past seven years he has progressed to more strategic roles with Provimi UK in both Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire, and latterly was the company's head of Scottish business.

Norvite operates from three manufacturing sites in Scotland and is a leading supplier to the Scottish livestock industry. The firm employs 28 people and has an annual turnover of about £6m.

It has a reputation for high-quality protein concentrates and mineral supplements to home-mixing farmers, and providing exclusive ruminant and pig diets. It also runs a mobile mill and mixing fleet which works on-farm.

Although now based in Aberdeenshire with his wife and two young daughters, Mr Smith retains close links with family, friends and business partners in Teesside and North Yorkshire.