Laurence Pierce (Wool Merchants) has been acquired by UK buyer Curtis Wool Direct Group.

Owner Vincent Pierce has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that he has sold the wool trading business in Ireland and the UK. The company, based in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, is one of the largest wool businesses in Ireland and claims to have 10% of the UK wool business. It handles about four million kilograms of wool each year and the figure is expected to rise with this new investment.

The Curtis Wool Direct Group buys more than half the total British wool clip via the British Wool Marketing Board and this latest acquisition will also make it one of the largest buyers of wool in Ireland.

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Vincent Pierce said that he will continue to run the business as normal, as the deal does not affect the other businesses, such as the joint venture that owns Connacht Gold, the wool insulation business and a washing plant for merino wool owned in Russia. He said that the move will open new markets for Irish sheep farmers’ wool and guarantees the future expansion of the business.