A HOUSEHOLD name will soon disappear across the region.

Southern Counties Agricultural Trading Society – better known as Scats is being rebranded and all company’s retail outlets will become Mole Country Stores.

Scats shops in Romsey, Andover, Salisbury, Dorchester and Canterbury have already been refitted and decorated in the Mole Country Stores livery which includes a giant black mole on the company logo. Remaining Scats shops across central southern, south-east England and South Wales will become Mole Country Stores by next spring.

Mole has retail stores across East Anglia, north-east England, the north Midlands and one in Scotland.

Scats was founded in the 1960s by a group of agricultural merchants and taken over by Devon-based co-operative Mole Valley Farmers in September 2002.

A spokesman for Mole Country Stores said: “The important elements of Scats will not be lost. We have always been respectful of the heritage within Scats brand. Romsey’s store refit brings an improved shopping experience with easy to shop and defined departments. This exciting new agricultural and rural retailing brand reflects the heritage and reputation of Mole Valley Farmers.”