Natural products

The family-owned business based in Lower Saxony has been expanding for a number of years, and a lack of space means that the growing production requirements can only be met with difficulty on its existing site. Managing director Christoph Schröder and his brother Markus, technical operations director of the company, have taken the timely step of looking around for expansion options. Since it is not possible to extend the existing premises, the company has decided to relocate to the Kreuzkrug industrial park in the Uchte administrative division just a few kilometres away. A 31 000 m2 site with good transport links is available to Naturhof Schröder there, and the company has the option on a further 30 000 m2, which would enable it to grow further well into the future. By comparison, the company's current premises cover 17 000 m2, 7 500 m2 of which has already been built on. At present Naturhof Schröder employs around 20 staff. 

Work is scheduled to start on the first part of the construction, covering between 5 000 and 7 000 m2, in the first quarter of 2018. In addition to relocating production, the company wants to create its own hay drying facility within the next couple of years, with the aim of improving product quality still further. Naturhof Schröder outsources hay drying to other companies at present. 
The ambitious construction plans underline the family firm's determination to enhance its mar­­ket position in the pet hay, straw and litter segment on an ongoing basis in the next few years. Naturhof Schröder is situated amid meadows along the River Weser and exclusively farms areas of the 3 000-hectare Weseraue bird sanctuary recognised by the European organic certification organisation Ecocert. With up to 48 different grasses and herbs, the reserve is home to extremely valuable natural products, according to the company, with a high vitamin and mineral content. This is where the hay comes from for the organic Grüne Liebe range, which comprises organic treats and twelve different herb mixes for small animals as well as organic Weser meadow hay. A new addition to the range is the new Meadow Mini-Round Hayballs, which come in three sizes and five flavours. Organic spelt pellets and litter, which are ideally suited as cage bedding on account of their high absorbency and odour-binding, complete the range. "Our straw and hay are monitored from harvesting and processing via storage right up to dispatch, enabling us to offer our…