Agrimark celebrates supplier excellence

Agrimark, a subsidiary of the KAL Group, recently held its 12th annual Supplier of the Year Awards, an event which has become a showcase of the growth and diversification of the company.

Established in 2011, the Awards has evolved into a prestigious accolade, recognising outstanding suppliers for their exceptional performance and alignment with Agrimark’s mission.

In response to the growth of the business and scale of Agrimark’s product offering, the 2023 Awards program was reorganised, with suppliers being recognised in four distinct operational channels: agriculture, retail, fuel and services. This approach allows for a fair and comprehensive evaluation process that considers the specific needs and performance criteria of suppliers within each procurement area.

The Awards acknowledged 32 suppliers across product-specific categories. Finalists were evaluated by cross-functional teams, with winners standing out for their excellence across a comprehensive set of criteria, including Integrity, Customer Focus, Value Proposition, and Efficiency. Agrimark and TFC store teams played an active role in the selection process, ensuring that the customer experience was central to the evaluation.

In 2023, Agrimark managed a database of more than 5 400 active suppliers, with 104 suppliers earning nominations as finalists, underscoring the company’s commitment to robust procurement standards.

Overall, Yara Cape received the award for top performing Agri Channel supplier. Montego Pet Nutrition was recognised as the Retail Channel supplier of the year and TotalEnergies received top honours in the Fuel channel.

Reflecting on the important role of strategic supply relationships, CEO Sean Walsh, emphasised the extent to which suppliers contributed to Agrimark’s brand evolution over the years, enabling the company to expand to become a diversified agri-retail destination.

“Our customer base now includes farmers, families, friends and don’t forget the fur family. In analysing our company’s performance this year, it is evident that retail activities have made a substantial impact, a sector that was not a significant part of our business just a few years ago. With strategic supply relationships as a cornerstone of our success, we congratulate our 2023 Supplier of the Year Award recipients. These suppliers are essential partners, continuously adding value to our efforts to serve and delight our customers,” said Sean.

Hennie Smit, Agrimark’s Supply Chain Director, highlighted the importance of the Awards in fostering continuous improvement.

“The Supplier of the Year Awards program is more than just recognition. It’s a key driver for successful collaboration to provide our customers with only the best. Beyond the accolades, it’s a platform that enables us to refine and elevate our operations collaboratively with our valued partners. The awards program confirms our commitment to continuous improvement and offers an opportunity to unlock support from suppliers to contribute to innovation and efficiency within Agrimark’s supply chain.” 

And the winners are: