Ravensdown happy on several fronts
RAVENSDOWN has posted a strong fullyear result, but chief executive Greg Campbell says it is more than the financials that is most pleasing.
The company has achieved a beforetax profit of $63 million — a 24% increase on last year’s result — and delivered a total rebate of $47 a tonne. Revenue was up from $627 million to $678 million.
It was a continuation of good, consistent performances in the past few years and while the rebate and headline numbers were good news, progress had been made on other fronts, Mr Campbell said.
That included product quality, customer trust, employment engagement, investment in infrastructure and the company’s big focus on environmental challenges and opportunities amid an ‘‘everincreasing under swell of expectation’’.
Returns took many forms and it was about protecting the local environment rather than focusing on maximising profit, he said.
Ravensdown’s environmental consultancy was now the largest in the rural sector. The company was also looking to reduce its emissions and ensure the sustainability of its operations.
Looking ahead, a strong spring was expected. Farming revenues were holding well and schedules for lamb and sheep boded well after a prolonged period that was quite difficult for farmers, he said.
Sheep and beef farmers were investing in new technology and looking at environmental options.
There was a little unease about greenhouse gases and what that meant for the rural sector.
In the dairy and beef industry, there was stress on farming families who had to cull stock due to the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. That affected confidence, a real concern.
Ravensdown had ‘‘taken the bull by the horns’’ and joined the Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition.
It also wanted to help influence the Government with policy so it was ‘‘not excessively overthetop for farmers’’.
‘‘People are expecting more, we have to expect more of ourselves. Our aim is to help others reduce their environmental impact so we must lower our own. Being welcomed into the Sustainable Business Council, joining the Climate Leaders Coalition and reporting our carbon emissions for the first time is just the beginning,’’ he said.
Ravensdown’s network continued to be upgraded and $100 million had been spent on infrastructure, including new loaders, conveyors, roofing, laboratories and high precision blending machinery, in the past three years.
Chairman John Henderson said continued financial strength gave the confidence to pay an interim cash rebate for the third year in a row and reinvest in the business.