Wednesday 29th April 2009

Online Auction Opportunity For Charity Event

In addition to the usual charity auction to be held on the night, Brian’s Do, the charitable event which will mark the achievements of retiring ANM Group Chief Executive, Brian Pack, will feature an online auction.

Combining the expertise of Aberdeen & Northern Marts with excellent prizes donated by supporters of the event, the online auction will allow anyone, including those unable to attend on the night, to be in with a chance of securing some of the excellent lots on offer.

Opening online lots will include: a golf flag from the 2009 US Masters signed by Mark O’Meara, a Karcher pressure washer, membership for the Garioch Sports Centre, a round of golf for four at Newmachar Golf Club, 500 litres of heating fuel, dinner bed and breakfast at Thainstone House Hotel, dinner for two at the Fjord Inn and a case of Macallan whisky.  Further lots will follow shortly.  The online auction page can be found at www.goanm.co.uk/BriansDo/onlineauction.html

Tickets for the event are sold out.  The event will feature a live auction with a number of top lots and also a grand raffle.  Raffle tickets are on sale at Thainstone or from any member of the organising committee.

The dedicated webpage for the event can be found at www.goanm.co.uk/BriansDo and online donations and goodwill messages can be made via this page.  Donations can also be handed in at Thainstone Mart Main Office, Caithness Livestock Centre, Elgin Auction Centre or to any member of the organising committee.

The organising committee consists of: David Brown (Committee Chairman), Fochabers; John McIntosh, ANM Group Chairman, Goval, Dyce; Derek Tucker, Press & Journal, Aberdeen; Iain Clark, Clydesdale Bank, Thainstone; Graham Baxter, Harbro, Turriff; Eddie Gillanders, Drumoak; Marjorie Sleigh, Tarves; Jim Fowlie, St Fergus; Billy Campbell, Thurso; Tom Johnstone, NFU Scotland, Huntly ; Iain Green, RNAS, Garmouth; John Gregor, Aberdeen & Northern Marts.

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Wednesday 1st April 2009

Group Announces Strong Trading Profit For 2008

ANM Group Ltd, Scotland’s leading farmer-owned co-operative, has announced a trading profit of £909,000 for 2008.

In the face of rising challenges due to the worldwide economic situation, the Group’s diverse nature allowed it to turn in a strong profit whilst stakeholders reinforced their commitment to the Group with an increase in share capital of £411,000 to £5.536million.

Throughput for the Group increased from £192.341million to £206.021million whilst turnover rose by £7.730million to £99.065million. 

ANM Group Chief Executive, Brian Pack OBE, who retires at the end of April, said that the Group’s strong financial position left it well placed to face the current economic climate.

“The hard earned reserves we have assiduously built up over the years ensure the Group is fit to face the bruising financial conditions of the moment and also that we have funds to look to future opportunities which can only increase,” he explained.

Mr Pack added that the Group, in common with all other businesses, was not immune to the credit crunch commenting: “The Group is impacted in various different ways, including customers with credit issues, consumers changing their buying habits to cheaper cuts of meat, the property development market stalled for the moment and many of the population saving rather than spending.”

“But like all challenges there are also real opportunities for us and therefore we must manage the downsides whilst looking to exploit the upsides for us as a diverse Group.”

Group Chairman, John McIntosh, in his annual report, added: “Some Group managers have had a particularly challenging time in what turned out to be a particularly hostile market.  I am greatly encouraged by the way they have maintained their enthusiasm and drive to look for new opportunities.”

Mr McIntosh also paid tribute to the tireless work of Mr Pack and welcomed new Chief Executive, Alan Craig to his post.  “I wish to record my appreciation of our retiring Chief Executive.  Brian’s tremendous energy and expertise I know will not be lost to the agricultural industry or the Group.

On welcoming Alan Craig he added: “We selected Alan Craig from a very strong group of contenders.  Alan currently holds a very senior position in the red meat industry and we look forward to working with our new Chief Executive.”

Brian Pack added: “Given that the Group has occupied such a large part of my life for over eighteen years, its future is really important to me and I am happy that my successor, Alan Craig, is fit to lead the Group forward and rise to the many challenges.

The Group’s parent society, which includes Aberdeen & Northern Marts and Thainstone Specialist Auctions, recorded a substantial profit.  The Marts division saw throughput increase and higher livestock prices also contributed.

Catering division, Highland Cuisine saw an increase in profit attributed to a busy summer show season, Christmas party season and an increase in the number of functions it catered for with the benefits of Thainstone Exchange being felt.

Aberdeen & Northern (Estates) however, saw profits fall with a reduction in throughput.  The dramatic changes in the property market, coupled to the lack of credit resulted in less sales for the Estates arm. 

Scotch Premier Meat felt the negative effects of the increase in cattle prices as it struggled to make margin and pass on the increase in costs to consumers.  However, the exchange rate in 2009 has proved favourable and the export market is looking more buoyant for Scotch Premier Meat.

Yorkshire Premier Meat was also affected by the increase in its raw material prices but by the autumn the market had stabilised and it turned in a profit.

Highland Country Foods and Charcuterie Continental were affected by increases in material prices and this affected much of these firms’ performance throughout the year although they both had a positive final quarter.

H&I Livestock saw a marked jump in 2008.  This was largely attributed to the uplift in lamb prices in the spring and the sale of some vehicles and equipment as the business direction changed towards procurement and trading.

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