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 has launched an exclusive new casual clothing range across its 42 stores nationwide and online.
Exclusive to Farmlands, the ‘1972 by Barkers’ represents the co-op’s most versatile choice for rural people, it says.
The co-op reports that in the first week, sales have been strong with almost 1000 pieces sold. The iconic Barkers trackpants is leading the top-sellers.
Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton says Farmlands stores are in parts of rural New Zealand that a fashion brand like Barkers normally can’t be.
“We’ve created a range of high-quality clothing that’ll work as hard as our farmers and growers. It’ll last through tough conditions on-farm and also look good down at the local pub or restaurant.”
The range has been named ‘1972’ as a celebration of Barkers’ 50-year history of creating quality menswear. Farmlands says the 1972 collection is another way it’s delivering on its mission to bring more value to farmers, joining Farmlands’ stable of exclusive products and brands that now extends across agrichemicals, animal feed, workwear and rural supplies.
Barkers chief executive Glenn Cracknell is excited about the collaboration. “It really is the perfect partnership with a highly-regarded New Zealand rural brand.”
The first winter collection, featuring merino knitwear, outerwear and classic shirts, is now available from select Farmlands stores and online.
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.

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