Gallagher takes out top supplier award at Farmlands annual awards

For the third time in four years Gallagher has received the top award at Farmlands’ supplier awards, held last week during its annual conference in Christchurch.

Gallagher received the coveted Supplier of the Year Award, alongside water pipe supply company Ipex. Both Gallagher and Ipex tied first in the infrastructure product supply category, qualifying them alongside five other category winners for the top supplier award.

Gallagher also received Farmlands’ top supplier award in 2017 and 2016, and came runner up in 2018. National sales manager Darrell Jones, who collected the award on the night, says winning the accolade is a reflection of the collaboration and respect between the two organisations.

“It’s fantastic to be recognised as a top supplier for Farmlands,” says Jones. “It’s also a great reflection of our relationship and the fact that we’re both committed to delivering the best possible solutions to our customers and end-users.”

The Farmlands Supplier of the Year Award is presented to a supplier who performs well across all areas of the supplier/retailer relationship, including product innovation and service, strategy delivery and implementation, and account and relationship management, from head office right through to field staff.

“We’ve enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Farmlands for more than 50 years, so we’re really proud to be recognised with the top supplier award,” says Jones.

Key account manager Kevin Marquand says the award is particularly relevant given Farmlands is the only rural retailer to recognise suppliers in this way.

“Being such a large and respected retailer in the rural market, the award gives us a good measure of how we’re performing in the marketplace,” he says.

“Farmlands is one of the few retailers that stocks a wide range of our products, which shows they’re on the same page as us in terms of supporting all aspects of rural and farming life – from animal health through to gate hardware and electric fencing, and lifestyle farms.”

Both Jones and Marquand agree that Gallagher and Farmlands are well-placed to continue to collaborate for the ongoing benefit of the rural industry and farmers.

“We’re constantly working to diversify our offerings, particularly in areas of emerging need such as digital technology and environmental management,” says Jones. “And with Farmlands, we’re working together to determine what farmers need, and how we can adapt what we offer to suit those needs well into the future.