Farmlands returns to profit with strong FY25 result
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
Rural trader Farmlands is expanding its footprint in the North Island.
The co-operative has announced a horticulture centre for Hawke’s Bay and a new Taranaki store.
Farmlands’ first-ever Farmlands Horticulture Hub is due to open this August in Hastings. It will be joined next year by a bulk and retail centre on the same site, creating a one-stop site for all Farmlands customers. Around the same time - in mid-2025 - a brand-new Farmlands store will be completed for New Plymouth.
The move underscores Farmlands' commitment to supporting horticulture in Hawke's Bay and the recovery and growth of the local agricultural sector following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton says that Farmlands is investing in the region in a way that reflects its unique character.
“We’re bringing our first Farmlands Horticulture Hub to our heartland - Hawke’s Bay. It’s New Zealand’s largest apple, pear and squash-growing region, and our second-largest wine-growing region. It’s also one of the places where Farmlands got its start, so we’re absolutely committed to supporting horticulture customers as they rebuild their businesses after the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle,” Houghton says.
“When we also look across at our plans for a new store in New Plymouth, we’re highlighting our commitment to better meeting the needs of all our customers across the central North Island.”
The new Farmlands Horticulture Hub, located at 7 Barnes Place, Twyford, will be a dedicated facility designed to cater specifically to the needs of horticulturalists, offering a full array of products and expert advice essential for the upcoming spring season. Farmlands’ future New Plymouth store will be at 35 Hudson Road, Bell Block.
Chris Binns, Farmlands head of sales & strategy - horticulture, says the co-op’s aim is to be the go-to Hawke’s Bay crop protection specialist, working hand-in-hand with commercial growers by offering them the best possible advice, products and service.
“The new site will be more accessible to customers, and will enable us to practice proper dangerous goods management, so we can safely keep more ag chem stock locally, ensuring consistent availability of essential supplies for local growers.”
“We’re also growing our team of horticulture experts in the region, so there’ll be more support on-hand locally for a wider range of customers,” Binns says.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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