LESS THAN two weeks after the initial closure of six Wexford Farmers’ Co-Op depots, three of the premises have been sold and reopened under their new owners.

Local agri-business company The Cooney Furlong Grain Company were quick off the mark in the aftermath of the closure of WFC and agreed on a sale on Thursday evening last. They have since moved into the branches at Enniscorthy, Wexford and New Ross and are open as of Monday.

“It’s probably the fastest turnaround in business history,” said Walter Furlong, Managing Director of the company: “The season is getting on so we were in a rush to open in order to make products available for customers.”

It is good news also for up to 12 workers who had been placed on temporary layoff following the closure of WFC. They will be kept on by Cooney Furlong to aid in the running of the new premises.

“We don’t know the staff breakdown yet, as regards how many will be in each depot but this is a good news story. We’re a local company, moving into local premises and there is a lot of good will, I understand, from the board of WFC towards us in this purchase.”

Together, with its sister company Gardiner Grain Ltd which has moved into the old WFC building in Gorey, all four of the main towns in Wexford have seen their depots taken over.