Atkins Ranch 2016 Supplier of the Year

3 November 2016

Kay & Dave Stanley of Rawiri Farm Trust winners of the Atkins Ranch 2016 Supplier of the Year Award.

Atkins Ranch 2016 Supplier of the Year

Rangitaiki farmers Dave and Kay Stanley of Rawiri Farm Trust, have been named the Atkins Ranch Supplier of the Year.

The win was announced at the Hawke's Bay Lamb and Atkins Ranch Annual Supplier of the Year dinner in Hastings on Thursday night.

“Winning was a complete surprise. We’ve been with Atkins Ranch for over 10 years, and we like their philospohy. Having a supply commitment with them works really well for us, we know what we need to produce and we work towards that,” says Dave Stanley.

The Stanleys have a lamb and beef finishing operation on the Napier-Taupo road at Rangitaiki. As winners, they receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the US to see their lamb in the market place.

The Stanleys also received the top ranking in 2013 and were second in 2015. This year they had a score of 98.2 per cent.

“They scored 91 per cent in the category for supplying lambs to spec,” says New Zealand supply chain manager Pat Maher. “They ticked every box. Across 6709 lambs that’s impressive.”

He says as well as supplying stock within the guidelines – grass fed, antibiotic free and within specific carcass sizes – there are a number of requirements for winning the top supplier title including supplying in full and on time based on the commitment made at the start of the season, year round supply and loyalty – how long they have been supplying the Atkins Ranch programme. There is also a weighting for volume although this is capped at 5000 lambs so smaller farms have a chance as well, he says.

“The dinner and the awards are all about celebrating success.”

Second place went to Mark and Susannah Guscott of Glen Eden in Wairarapa and third place went to James and Jane Hunter of Rangitoto at Porangahau were third. It is the third year in a row the Guscotts have been in the top three. It is the fourth year in a row for the Hunters, who won in 2014 and 2015.

Atkins Ranch, formerly known as Lean Meats in New Zealand, sells lamb to Whole Foods Market and other key retailers in the US and Canada.

For more information please contact Pat Maher, Atkins Ranch on 027 431 1634 or visit our websitewww.atkinsranch.com.

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