Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/464860
AGRICULTURE EDITION 27 ANGLIA FARMERS | T en years ago, Anglia Farmers (AF) was a Norfolk buying group purchasing only the main farm inputs (fuel, agrochemicals, fertiliser, seed) for its members. Today, it is a sophisticated UK-wide cooperative sourcing the whole range of products and services required for farming members, who between them farm over 1.3 million hectares of land across the UK. As well as the main farm inputs, AF now has expertise in energy (7000 electricity meters), telecommunications (14,000 mobile phones), machinery consumables, livestock and animal health, plus human resources, payroll and health insurance. It is now the UK's largest agricultural purchasing cooperative, and helps over 7000 farms and rural businesses run more efficiently. Over the past 10 years, AF has grown in turnover from under £40 million to a projected £260 million in 2014. It sources almost 10% of the main inputs used on British farms. This 20% a year growth has been achieved sustainably through innovative business development. One of the main challenges within the farming industry is that farmers source at retail prices and sell at wholesale commodity prices. In essence, AF enables its members to have access to much more competitive pricing for their inputs through planned purchasing. The concentration in the retail food sector over the past few decades has been mirrored in the input supply chain where, for example, three global agrochemical and six global fertiliser manufacturers dominate their respective markets. In the UK, concentration in bulk liquid fuel (red diesel) has resulted in two distributors having 70% of the market. This is where AF scores – not only in pricing negotiations but also in being able to give an overview of the supply chain through Anglia Farmers Anglia farmers uses its wide range of expertise to help farms and rural businesses run more efficiently » A sophisticated UK-wide cooperative sourcing the whole range of products and services required for members who farm over 1.3 million hectares of land across the UK » The group has achieved 20% a year growth through sustainable and innovative business development » Dynamic development has allowed the group to offer an increasing range of products and services to meet the industry's expanding needs » Collaboration has been key to AF's growth, forming strategic alliances with businesses at all stages of the supply chain ABOUT ANGLIA FARMERS