Countrywide Farmers was a British agricultural retailer that went out of business in 2018.
The company developed from the amalgamation of a number of agricultural co-operatives such as West Midland Farmers' Association[1] and Midland Shires Farmers. It was demutualised in 1999 when it became Countrywide Farmers plc. The chairman until 2004 was John Barnard Bush.
The new company was based in Evesham, Worcestershire[2] and operated retail stores under the Countrywide brand, which sold equipment and supplies for small-scale agriculture and outdoor pursuits. After 14 unprofitable outlets had been sold in 2017, there were 48 stores when the company entered administration in 2018.[2][3][4]
Many of the stores were closed while others were acquired by competitors, eight of them by Wynnstay.[5][6]
- ^ "West Midland Farmers Ltd - University of Reading". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Countrywide Farmers calls in administrators". Farmers Weekly. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Farming giant set to close 11 stores". Bbc.co.uk. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Administration of Countrywide Farmers – update". Farmers Guide. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ Barry, Sion (30 April 2018). "Welsh firm strikes deal to acquire Countrywide Farmers stores". Walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ Black, Alex (30 April 2018). "Wynnstay acquires eight Countrywide Stores". Farmers Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2019.