Announcing results for the year ending 31st January 2009, agricultural purchasing group Anglia Farmers Limited reports turnover was £145.7 million, up by 52% on the previous year.  While part of this growth is due to inflation, particularly in fertilizer and fuel, the underlying 30% is consistent with growth in recent years.
 
The net surplus for the year, to be retained in reserves, was just over £217,000 (up 67%) and net assets increased to £1.4 million (up from £1.15 million).
 
During the six years of Anglia Farmers’ existence, turnover has increased by more than three and a half times and with 1833 shareholding members, membership has about doubled.  The net cost of running the business last year was 1.45%, a marginal reduction on the previous year.
 
George Bell, chairman of Anglia Farmers, said: “Our underlying growth has come about through the commitment of our members who are sourcing more goods through us and recommending others to join.  Together they farm 520,000 hectares.  
“The highlight last year was the move to our purpose-built office at Honingham Thorpe. It provides exactly the kind of environment our people need to provide a high level of service to members, yet it is functional without unnecessary frills.  The move from our old office to the new one took place over a weekend without any disruption of service to members and the fact that this all went according to plan speaks volumes about the dedication of all who work at Anglia Farmers – a truly remarkable achievement and typical of the can do attitude that exists.”
 
In addition to increased turnover, membership and staffing levels, the group’s services have also spread geographically. The successful alliance business model, which allows Anglia Farmers to negotiate agricultural input prices on behalf of other groups such as Samco Shrim in Bishop Stortford has attracted others.  A new membership, AF Agrevise, has been launched; Farmby Group in Derbyshire has joined and a membership category with Yorkshire based Ridings Machinery Ring has been established.
 
The group’s chief executive, Clarke Willis, said: “Our vision to be ‘the best agricultural purchaser in the UK’, which was set six years ago, is being realised.  Recognising that increased size achieve better purchasing power and reduces our members’ input costs, Anglia Farmers continues in the long term plan to continue development for the benefit of members.  We also continue to develop mutually beneficially business plans with our suppliers underpinning strength and security within the agricultural supply chain.”