www.guardianonline.co.nz
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Good relationships important
S
ynlait milk supply relationship manager Mark Burnside believes good relationships and great communication are the key to quality partnerships with Canterbury’s leading milk suppliers. “Communication is essential, both on a day-to-day basis, but also in connecting our suppliers with our progress as a company,” Mr Burnside said. “Our approach is simple: we’re always looking to support our suppliers and wherever possible, add value to their milk.” A big advantage for Synlait is its close locality to suppliers. One of their newest suppliers, Andrew Quigley, is only a 30-minute drive from the Dunsandel plant. “We signed up to supply Synlait just over a year ago, and we’ve had a good relationship with Mark and his team since the start. I know we’re not just another number to them,” Mr Quigley said. He converted his 100 hectare Punawai property to a dairy farm last year. Having
Andrew Quigley
left a 50/50 shareholding arrangement with another dairy farm the year before, he knew exactly what he was looking for in his first full equity venture. “I was quite mindful of the economics in setting up our farm,” Mr Quigley said.
“We work with other farmers all year around through our contracting business, so I knew what the pros and cons were with our options. “Being able to invest our capital in our land and business, rather than in
company shares, was a big advantage for us “We also stopped to think ‘where are the best opportunities to add value to our milk’ and ‘where do we want to be down the track, Synlait ticked that box for us.” Mr Quigley operates Quigley Contracting from the same site as his dairy farm. Employing up to 60 people in peak season, the business provides other farmers in the region with bailing, chopping, straw, drilling and cultivation services. Synlait’s Lead With Pride programme also aligned with Mr Quigley’s vison to operate at dairy farming best practice, while being financially rewarded for doing so. “I liked it because if we’re operating at our best, we’re meeting market demands in terms of food safety and sustainability,” he said. “Being responsible adds to my bottom line and also brings longer term benefits. It fits with the level I want to be performing at in this industry.” Adding to this was Synlait’s 2014 supplier conference,
which provided an insight into the markets and consumers who benefit from milk produced by the company’s Canterbury suppliers. “We’re just the first step in that process. Knowing about the customers at the other end makes us want to do the best we can,” Mr Quigley said. Mr Burnside believes showing suppliers how they are contributing to a bigger picture also gives them an appreciation of what Synlait is trying to achieve. “Making sure suppliers are aware of our long term strategy, where future opportunities are and how important the quality of their contribution is completes the whole picture for them,” Mr Burnside said. “Synlait partners with world-leading health and nutrition companies. This starts at the farm with our milk suppliers, which is why we focus on each and every one of them.” “We’re always interested in talking to any dairy farmer about milk supply options for the 2015/16 season.”
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