Award presented in memory of Mervyn Allen
Leading rural retailer Countrywide has announced their regional sales manager, Colin Warne is the recipient of the Mervyn Allen award for 2011.
Mr Allen worked for Countrywide and was well known in Gloucestershire where he lived and the Welsh borders where he worked, travelling the area selling feed and fertiliser to farmers.
Alistair Folly is Countrywides Agriculture Director Mervyn was very well liked by everyone and nothing was ever too much trouble for him. He was very dedicated to increasing sales and working with as many farmers as possible to add value to their business, particularly in the sheep sector
Each year a member of the Countrywide on farm sales team is presented with the award to recognise substantial achievement in the industry. This years winner, Colin Warne thoroughly deserves the accolade. Colin works with farmers throughout Herefordshire and in the past 12 months has increased his sales of sheep feed by 44% which, in a year when the market has increased by about 3%, is a tremendous effort. This has been achieved alongside the launch of Countrywides new range of ewe and lamb feeds which aims to satisfy the nutritional requirements of todays highly productive modern ewe.
Colin was thrilled with the award, Mervyn was a good friend and colleague and I am delighted to win the award in his honour. He is sadly missed by all those who knew him.
Farmers are being challenged every day to increase efficiency and my role involves helping them improve the areas where they can be more successful. Increased productivity through using the right balance of nutrition in feed is vital to that success.
Countrywide is the UKs leading supplier of quality products and services supporting the rural community.
Countrywide has a reputation for delivering a high-quality, personalised service, by its 1,000 experienced and knowledgeable staff.
Focusing on three specialist areas – Agriculture, Energy and Retail; 2009/10 was Countrywides third consecutive year reporting record operating profits.
In Agriculture, Countrywides expertise offers products and related services for the livestock, arable and turf and amenity sectors, delivered through 40 farming specialists and an in-house support team.
Countrywide has over 50 years experience of providing Energy and now offers a wide range of fuel products and support services, including autogas, cylinders, LP Gas and a range of bio-renewable fuels.
Countrywides 48 country Retail stores in England and Wales, and a 24/7 on-line service, sell a vast range of rural goods to a growing group of customers, including over 40,000 account holders. In-store experts focus on supporting customers with a focus on equine, agriculture and pet care.