Aggregate Industries, part of the LafargeHolcim group, is the newest entrant to the cement production market in the UK, having taken ownership of cement plants in Cauldon, Staffordshire and Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The transfer of ownership of the two plants to Aggregate Industries, along with a quarry at Cauldon Low and a cement terminal at Belfast Docks, follows the successful global merger between Lafarge and Holcim.

The transfer was finalised on Monday 20 July and also involves the transfer of 250 employees from the existing operations to Aggregate Industries. Becoming a cement producer and supplier is the final piece in the jigsaw for Aggregate Industries, allowing the company to provide a full range of construction materials to their customers.

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Pat Ward, CEO, Aggregate Industries, said: "These are exciting times for Aggregate Industries. Along with the wider benefits of being part of the new LafargeHolcim group, the integration of cement production represents a significant strategic opportunity for us.

"We're now able to offer our customers the full range of construction materials and solutions, while maintaining our high levels of customer service."

Given the strength of the Lafarge cement brand, the business has chosen to continue with this branding for its bulk cement products, although some of the bagged products will be renamed in due course.

The new cement division will be led by Joe Hudson, Managing Director, Cement & Concrete Products. Joe joins Aggregate Industries from Lafarge, where he has worked in a number of key functional and operational roles since 2001. He has been heavily involved in preparations for the LafargeHolcim merger as Group Senior Vice President for Organisation & Development at Lafarge and has experience of running a cement business, having previously worked as MD/CEO for Lafarge Wapco Plc in Nigeria.