One of the UK’s oldest leather manufacturers rescued from administration

Three family business have joined forces to save Walsall based Sedgwick & Co., one of the UK’s oldest leather manufacturers.

The consortium is made up of Abbey England, renowned provider of saddlery and associated goods to the equestrian market, Kilger, a German tannery which has supplied Sedgwick with leather for 20 years, and Crawford Hide Company, a UK and Irish hide and skin processing company.

Following Sedgwick & Co.’s threatened closure as it was taken into administration on October 4 due to challenging trading conditions and declining exchange rates, the consortium invested £1.5m to save the business, protecting 60% of the firm’s jobs and maintaining its manufacturing strength to protect its current order book.

Abbey England led the consortium, being keen to prevent the company being wound up altogether, given its heavy reliance on the leather that Sedgwick & Co. provides for its own saddlery business.

Richard Brown, managing director at Abbey England, said:; “It was imperative that we found a way to save what is one of Britain’s most prestigious leather companies. Its leather is an integral component of the high quality products we as a consortium are well-known for producing, within the equestrian sector and beyond.”

Brown added: “I’m confident that the combination of the complementary skills and capabilities inherent in these three businesses will result in the continued manufacturer of high quality leather products to some the world’s most respected brands.  We know that Sedgwick & Co.’s esteemed customer, Aston Martin, would not consider looking elsewhere given the quality of leather required for its interiors – and it is this superiority of manufacturer that we are so proud to have saved for the future of leather production.”

Robin Coleman designs bespoke accessories for Aston Martin and has been a customer of Sedgwick & Co. for almost 40 years.

He said: “We have always worked very closely with Sedgwick & Co. to source our leather as the quality is unbeatable and the consistency is superior to any other supplier.  We’re delighted that Richard has led this consortium to rescue the business as had the Sedgwick & Co. gone into administration, it would have totally disrupted our business and would have meant weeks and weeks of sourcing an alternative supplier.”

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