VBC Wool director Andrew Raeber.

ITALIAN fabric maker Vitale Barberis Canonico has established its own Australian buying wool-buying arm after ending its relationship with New England Wool.

A statement from VBC said the company had worked for more than 30 years in partnership with New England Wool, and will now forge its own path with the establishment of VBC Wool.

New England Wool, formed by VBC and fellow Italian manufacturer Successori Reda, last month announced it was winding down operations under its current ownership as led by managing director Andrew Blanch.

The new company, VBC Wool, will be managed by former NEW buyer Andrew Raeber.

VBC raw procurement manager Davide Fontaneto

VBC raw materials manager Davide Fontaneto said the NEW team’s dedication to working directly with growers and guiding them towards superior wool classing resulted in the highest quality wools for VBC.

“This in turn improved profitability for both ends of the supply chain.

“We are very thankful and proud of our partnership with NEW and what we have achieved together,” he said.

The VBC statement said the company believes it is time to investigate new challenges, ideas and strategies, but the ethos of the company’s “new path” remained the same: to directly link wool growers with the final market.

“VBC decided that by establishing its own wool buying arm, it can grow even closer to the origin of our fabrics,” Mr Fontaneto said.

VBC Wool gives us a true sheep to shelf supply chain.

“It represents the concrete connection between wool growers and VBC’s fabric clients,” he said.

Mr Raeber said he was very excited about the opportunities and challenges in front of the new company.

“We will continue to support growers at auction and through our Wool of Excellence Club contracts, with the aim to increase our buying activities and build on our existing relationships with growers.”

VBC Wool will operate on Australian fine and super fine wool at all Australian auction centres.