Bata members vote to retain co-op status

North Yorkshire based farm and country supply business Bata is to remain a co-operative after members rejected a proposal to convert it to a private company limited by shares.

The board’s plan to demutualise failed to gain approval from the required 75% of voting members.

Members voted in person at a meeting on 15 August and prior to that by post and online.

See also: Bata farm co-operative faces resistance to privatisation

Bata has 2,500 eligible voting members. This is a reduction from 3,000 as 500 members have cashed in their shareholding since the announcement of the conversion plan.

Of the 53.36% of those voting, 66% were in favour of the conversion, falling well short of the 75% needed to approve the change in status.

Aside from being opposed to the move itself, members resisting the change had criticised the timing and manner of the proposal, saying that it had been sprung on them with no prior consultation.

Farmer and former Bata chairman Charles Brader, who opposed the proposal, said: “We’re very pleased with the result, but there are other issues going forward which need to be addressed.

“This ill-judged project has, in my opinion, caused damage to Bata both financially and reputationally and we’re going to try our very hardest to repair it and welcome back the 500 members that we have lost and to recruit new membership.

“Thank you for the wonderful support from members who contacted me in person.”

After the 15 August meeting, a further special members meeting was announced by company secretary and chief executive Andrew Richardson. Details of this meeting are to be confirmed.

Bata’s registered name is Brandsby Agricultural Trading Association Limited. It was established in 1894 and is based at Amotherby, near Malton, suppling customers from Selby to Darlington.

The group had a turnover of £153m in the year to 30 September 2022.