ALIU confirm closure of B&K Universal
East Yorkshire ALIU | 21.07.2010 17:02 | Animal Liberation
The Animal Liberation Investigation Unit have been keeping a close eye on East Yorkshire laboratory animal breeder B&K Universal Group (also known as Bantin and Kingman) since they were taken over by US-based Marshall BioResources Inc in October 2009.
The Animal Liberation Investigation Unit have been keeping a close eye on East Yorkshire laboratory animal breeder B&K Universal Group (also known as Bantin and Kingman) since they were taken over by US-based Marshall BioResources Inc in October 2009.
We have had sustained surveillance on 'the Field Station' site at Grimston, which has been used up until the late part of last year, to hold beagle dogs and also had a number of units breeding gm-rodents and guinea-pigs. However, this has now changed. For the past seven months there has been no activity at the site and every last animal has been removed. Less than a handful of security guards still protect the empty building, however this is to be expected, and they are the only staff present.
It must also be noted that the Managing Director and former owner has left the area and sold up all assets; both personal and concerning B&K Universal.
None of the communications for the business are active, including phone lines (main and internal), fax numbers and email addresses.
B&K Universal have also recently operated a 2841.35 sq meter breeding facility at Beck Farm, Salisbury, and we can confirm that the situation is exactly the same as at Grimston by liasing with another ALIU Group in the South West.
Through various means, we have been able to confirm that the company has now closed down and it is thought this is due to Marshall purchasing them for the client base and also the poor logistical location of the site. B&K were an extremely well know breeder in the UK and had many internal industry contacts, however the only animal bred with was of use to Marshall was beagles and a site only able to hold under 100 of these animals is useless to the later company. It is now believed animals once bred from B&K will now be imported into the UK via Manchester Airport, which we know Marshall are currently doing on a regular basis.
The trading name 'B&K Universal' has not yet gone into liquidation, however looking at other closed companies, such as Shamrock (GB) Ltd, the name was still active for several years following closure of the site.
Ex-B&K Universal staff have already begun defecting to other businesses in the area involved in animal research - this includes Agenda Resource Management (Daisy Hill), Covance Laboratories (Harrogate) and various university establishments.
East Yorkshire ALIU
We have had sustained surveillance on 'the Field Station' site at Grimston, which has been used up until the late part of last year, to hold beagle dogs and also had a number of units breeding gm-rodents and guinea-pigs. However, this has now changed. For the past seven months there has been no activity at the site and every last animal has been removed. Less than a handful of security guards still protect the empty building, however this is to be expected, and they are the only staff present.
It must also be noted that the Managing Director and former owner has left the area and sold up all assets; both personal and concerning B&K Universal.
None of the communications for the business are active, including phone lines (main and internal), fax numbers and email addresses.
B&K Universal have also recently operated a 2841.35 sq meter breeding facility at Beck Farm, Salisbury, and we can confirm that the situation is exactly the same as at Grimston by liasing with another ALIU Group in the South West.
Through various means, we have been able to confirm that the company has now closed down and it is thought this is due to Marshall purchasing them for the client base and also the poor logistical location of the site. B&K were an extremely well know breeder in the UK and had many internal industry contacts, however the only animal bred with was of use to Marshall was beagles and a site only able to hold under 100 of these animals is useless to the later company. It is now believed animals once bred from B&K will now be imported into the UK via Manchester Airport, which we know Marshall are currently doing on a regular basis.
The trading name 'B&K Universal' has not yet gone into liquidation, however looking at other closed companies, such as Shamrock (GB) Ltd, the name was still active for several years following closure of the site.
Ex-B&K Universal staff have already begun defecting to other businesses in the area involved in animal research - this includes Agenda Resource Management (Daisy Hill), Covance Laboratories (Harrogate) and various university establishments.
East Yorkshire ALIU
East Yorkshire ALIU