The teams at Chandlers and Ross Farm Machinery are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement to join forces, combining the strength of both teams and their main franchises. The combined business will begin trading from the 1st February 2023 from 17 depots across the Midlands and employ more than 425 people.
The UK Agricultural Machinery Dealer landscape has changed dramatically over the last few years, and the management teams of both businesses recognise the benefits of an increased size of business. With the economies of scale that this presents, along with the ability to develop the specialist skills within the teams to provide the very best customer service; and meet the aims of their key supplying full line franchises. The growth in the size of dealerships mirroring the change in the farming customer, where there has been significant consolidation and increase in farm size, a trend that appears likely to continue in the future.
Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Ltd and Ross Farm Machinery have successfully expanded over the preceding years, with both businesses fully focused on agriculture and sharing some very similar family values, resulting in their coverage of territory that aligned from Birmingham to the Seven Estuary. The synergy extends to the franchises, with both companies having grown around the Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Valtra franchises, with Ross Farm Machinery also enjoying a strong relationship with JCB. Chandlers currently operates from 13 depots covering primarily Lincolnshire and the East and Central Midlands, with Ross Farm Machinery operating from 4 depots covering central Southern England and Wales.
The combined business will continue the relationships with both key suppliers AGCO and JCB, covering the same existing territories for both franchises as they are today, and will result in Chandlers relinquishing their existing Merlo and Manitou handler franchises to focus fully on JCB growth in Martley, Ross-on-Wye, and Raglan regions. Chandlers will continue to support Merlo and Manitou customers for parts and service during the transition phase over the coming months.
The teams at Chandlers and Ross Farm Machinery look forward to continuing to be of service to the local farming community.