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Various manufacturer shake-ups to the UK dealer network have seen some bold moves in recent years affecting dealers and customers alike. Often leaving some strong-hold franchises left to make tough decisions on how they can best serve their customers and grow their business, alongside manufacturer ambitions. With that, a number of competing manufacturers have seized the opportunity to grow their market share across a number of regions.

Valtra stakes its claim in Lancashire

Valtra is one of a string of manufacturers making recent announcements by appointing Malpas Tractors Ltd as their new dealer covering the Lancashire area.  

Malpas tractors already operate out of a number of branches with an established team of parts and service engineers covering the area for major manufacturers such as Kuhn and Grimme.  Valtra sees this as a well-positioned move to strengthen its dealer network. Partnering with Valtra, Malpas Tractors Managing Director Paul Reeves says: "We see an opportunity to grow with a brand that has a reputation and ideas match our own, the entire team at Malpas Tractors are excited about the future and very much looking forward to expanding within the industry."

"Being farmers ourselves, we have long recognised the needs of our customers who want reliability, durability, productivity, and technical innovation from the equipment they use to meet the challenges of modern-day farming," he adds.

Malpas Tractors will offer the full Valtra tractor model range from 75hp to over 400hp, along with a comprehensive service and parts backup out of their two Northerly depots of Lathom and Conder Green.

Alan Sanderson, National Sales Manager, Valtra UK & Ireland said: "Malpas is a long-established family company in the Agricultural machinery business in the North West of England and look forward to continued success growing the Valtra market share in this region.

Partnership grows for Northern dealer

A positive partnership with Kubota sees Gibsons Garden Machinery (GGM) expand its Kubota product portfolio into the agricultural sector.  The dealer already sells a full grounds care and utility tractor range for Kubota with depots covering Merseyside, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.  This long-standing relationship with Kubota spans more than 45 years. 

GGM's Managing Director Chris Gibson said: "This is an exciting new chapter for our business. Many of our staff already have experience and knowledge of the smaller M-series tractors, and we're in the process of increasing our sales, service and engineering teams to support new and existing customers with Kubota's higher horsepower tractors and implements, as we extend into the agricultural sector."

Kubota has long shown ambition in the agricultural market with a number of high-profile acquisitions such as the machinery brand Kverneland a few years back. Development of the M7 range links with Topcon shows the brand's future still has a focus in agriculture but that requires a strong dealer network to deliver the product.

The manufacturer sees strengthening ties with GGM as a logical step as it looks to broaden its customer base. Additional models to the dealer's portfolio will include M6001 Utility, M6002 and M7003 models covering 104-175hp power bracket, plus LK tractor-loader models and R0 pivot steer loaders.

Eastern ambitions for Deutz-Farh

Deutz-Fahr has long held a place in the UK farm machinery marketplace with a strong product portfolio and ambition to grow sales and support existing customers. The brand has sought the appoint two new dealers to cover areas in the South and North East, which will create a forty-strong franchise network for the manufacturer covering the UK.

Approached by SDF established agricultural engineering firm RC Setchfield saw a real opportunity to grow with Deutz-Fahr covering  Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Hannah Setchfield of RC Setchfield said: "We are really pleased to be able to sign with SDF for the Deutz-Fahr franchise, not only because we now have a broader range of tractors from 66-335hp to offer, but also because there is an established park of Deutz-Fahr machines in this area."

As with many manufacturers now looking to bolster their brand across the UK, Deutz-Fahr sought to appoint a second dealer covering County Durham.  The appointment of Mark Watson Machinery looks to build on demand in a strong farming region, says the manufacturer. With the move, Mark Watson Machinery based in County Durham will also cover the Eastern areas of Northumberland and North Yorkshire.

Managing Director Mark Watson said: "Although we have been approached by several manufacturers over the years, I never thought a new tractor franchise was for us. But Deutz-Fahr has been my favoured brand right back to the days of its DX series, so when SDF came to us recently looking to fill a gap in its network, my daughter and I were happy to talk further about taking on the franchise.

"We are investing in service training and parts stocks, and are ready to demonstrate machines this summer. My phone is always on, so I am keen to hear from farmers who would like to see what a Deutz-Fahr can do on their own farm, and to talk about how we can support their businesses."

Hopkins Machinery makes ties with Kverneland

Kverneland seeks to strengthen its sales and support in areas of Wales and parts of Gloucestershire with the appointment of Hopkins Machinery to its dealer network.

The family-run business opened in 1987 and now holds depots in St Brides Wentloog, Newport, Brecon, and Kilcot in Gloucestershire.

Speaking about the move Evan Hopkins of Hopkins Machinery said: "We have been looking to grow our business by providing a much more focused approach for new and existing agricultural customers, and the broad Kverneland portfolio is a perfect fit. Pushing our area north and east through the Kilcot depot has opened up greater opportunities for arable equipment. Alongside Kverneland's grass and feeding machinery, an extensive range of arable equipment gives us exactly what we and our customers need, to move forward."

As with all these new partnerships, it shows a further growing trend of consolidation in the dealer marketplace with brands looking to reposition themselves with dealers that best suit their ambitions of growth and customer support.