Wool buyer expands direct buying in south
As one New Zealand wool buying firm closes another expands, with Segard Masurel taking on three new buyers.
The company is expanding its existing wool buying operations in the South Island following the closure of H Dawson Farm Direct.
H Dawson Farm Direct announced it was closing its doors on Wednesday as a result of Chinese textile market contraction, Brexit, exchange rates and the reducing wool clip.
The H Dawson New Zealand Export business will continue to trade as normal and all existing and new contracts will be delivered as normal.
Segard Masurel has appointed three new buyers who previously worked for H Dawsons: Riwakabased Brett Bolton, who covers the Nelson Marlborough area, Nelsonbased Mike Palmer who covers the Nelson, Marlborough and North Canterbury regions, and Waikaiabased Brian Shaw who covers the Southland and south Otago areas.
These trio will join the existing operation run by Nick Redding and supported by Grant Harris in Invercargill.
Segard Masurel was proud to have been able to expand operations in the South Island with such ‘‘skilled and respected men’’, the company said in a statement.
‘‘Despite the difficult conditions facing the wool industry at the moment we hope farmers will see our expansion into direct procurement as a vote of confidence in our industry and to NZ farmers.’’
Segard Masurel managing director Peter Whiteman said the company had been in New Zealand for more than 100 years, but the nature of wool buying had changed dramatically, with more and more wool being sold privately.
Expanding the company was a natural progression as Whiteman felt it needed to integrate its buying and exports, he said.
‘‘It adds a lot of integrity to our business because we are able to buy directly off the farmers and sell to the wool spinners and carpet makers.’’