Blacker Sheep has purchased from the retiring proprietors the assets and good will of The Natural Fibre Company which was based at Lampeter in Wales.

The 13-year-old business will continue as the Natural Fibre Company, but has been relocated in a 10,000 square foot factory just off the A30 near Launceston in Cornwall.

It scours, cards, spins and packages wool, mohair and alpaca and has applied to be accredited for organic processing.

With around 250 regular customers, the NFC has become the largest UK provider of an exclusive, small-scale spinning service dealing with quantities upwards of 20 kilograms whereas the commercial market normally only considers amounts of at least a tonne.

Although much remains the same, the business has been developed and European Objective One grant funding used to upgrade and increase the capability of the machinery, particularly with scouring and spinning to finer diameters.

Fleece producers are encouraged to increase their value-adding opportunities by developing local or breed-based branding and working with smaller, niche textile producers. During 2006 it is hoped to add worsted spinning.