So, what was the aim of starting Woldmarsh?

It’s simple. To combine buying power to save money on farm inputs keeping members farming profitably.

We have grown considerably from the original 12 members to over 1,000 today, however we still operate with this same ethos “saving money for our members.” With our years of experience, we think we know what our members need and continue to develop our business to keep up with the ever-changing agricultural industry.

The Woldmarsh experienced buying teamwork on behalf of members to secure the best value across a wide range of goods and services. We work in conjunction with other similar groups to optimise shared collective strength to provide more benefits to our members.

National Membership

East Anglia

Much of our organic growth has been achieved by word-of-mouth introductions and we now have more members outside Lincolnshire than in it, with a large number in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, and beyond.

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Yorkshire & The Humber

The concept of Woldmarsh was born in Louth, Lincolnshire. From an initial group of 12 farmers in 1961 to more than 1,000 today, a significant proportion of farmers in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and the Humber regions have benefited from membership over many decades.

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West Midlands

Much of our organic growth has been achieved by word-of-mouth introductions and we now have more members outside Lincolnshire than in it, with a large number in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire and beyond.

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North West

When the original 12 farmers conceived the idea of Woldmarsh, it is highly unlikely that they would have believed membership would include farms from Cheshire to the Scottish Borders, but with the advent of modern communications, there is no part of England that we cannot assist.

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North East

A few years ago we introduced our first member to the group from County Durham. From those small beginnings we now routinely accept members from Northumberland and as far South as Hampshire.

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Wales

As a farmer, seeking assistance from a farming co-operative is a logical step to take, as your business can be complex and often isolating, with so many operations now highly labour efficient. Why not give the office a ring or send us an email to see if we can help you?

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East Midlands

Louth, the capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds, was where the concept of Woldmarsh was born. From an initial group of 12 farmers in 1961 to more than 1,000 today, a significant proportion of farmers in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Humber regions have benefited from membership over many decades.

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South West

We are often asked whether we can assist farmers based further afield. Much of the distribution network is geared to national supply so there is little we cannot assist a farmer with. Chemical distribution networks are highly efficient and we have yet to find an area of mainland England where next day delivery is not the routine position.

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London & The South East

We are often asked whether we can assist farmers based further afield. Much of the distribution network is geared to national supply so there is little we cannot assist a farmer with. Chemical distribution networks are highly efficient and we have yet to find an area of mainland England where next day delivery is not the routine position.

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Why our members love Woldmarsh

Joining Woldmarsh is the best thing I’ve done. My electric bills have been cut in half and the staff are always helpful and friendly.

Steve R
South Yorkshire

My electricity saving alone is around £2,000 a year. With the excellent service and range of farming inputs covered Woldmarsh offers the full package.

Richard W
Lincolnshire

Being a member of Woldmarsh allows us to get on with the job. It saves time getting quotes, the staff are very helpful and friendly, and one monthly statement simplifies accountancy.

Mark D
South Yorkshire

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Our History

Woldmarsh was formed in 1961 around Henry Sharpley’s kitchen table.

1961

Louth Trading Group and Beelsby Viners merged and an office was opened in Louth. Guaranteed payments to suppliers massively improved the group’s negotiating position.

1963

With membership expanding our suppliers began to appreciate the benefits of trading with Woldmarsh.

1977

Due to expansion and with turnover surpassing the £20 million mark, the office moved to larger premises.

2000

Turnover breached £30 million which placed Woldmarsh in a stronger position than ever before.

2005

The business saw continued rapid growth. Members increasingly appreciated the long-term value of collaboration over competition.

2008

A contemporary IT network was established which increased efficiency and more specialist staff were recruited.

Present Day

The group has continued to thrive. Membership has surpassed 1,000 and turnover in excess of £115 million per annum.

Directors & Senior Management

Heather Claridge – Chief Executive

Heather has spent her career in agriculture, having previously held positions at Midland Shires Farmers and Dalgety Agriculture in the 1990s, moving to AF in…

Heather has spent her career in agriculture, having previously held positions at Midland Shires Farmers and Dalgety Agriculture in the 1990s, moving to AF in Norfolk in 2004, and a return to her home county of Lincolnshire prompted a move to Woldmarsh in 2011.  She is well-established in the fertilizer industry and still oversees that sector alongside her CEO duties, holds BASIS and FACTS qualifications, and sits as an examiner for FACTS on viva panels. She is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Procurement and Supply.  Heather is acutely aware of the challenges facing UK agriculture and is relishing the opportunity the role brings.

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Andrew Price – Chair

After qualifying with a degree in Agriculture at Bangor University, Andrew joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Now Defra) to work with arable…

After qualifying with a degree in Agriculture at Bangor University, Andrew joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Now Defra) to work with arable farmers in Essex. In 1986, Andrew moved to South Lincolnshire working with potato farmers on crop quality and yield which included a two year secondment to a potato co-operative. In the 1990s he took on the overall management of ADAS’s business consultancy team with a group of 60 business, financial and human resources consultants across England and Wales. Joining Clydesdale bank in 2004 as an agricultural partner Andrew had a remit to build a commercial loan portfolio with farming businesses and raise the bank’s profile in Lincolnshire.  In 2016 Andrew retired from the bank so he could run his 270 hectare arable farm with his wife Pat.

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Jim Beeden

Jim studied at Askham Bryan College and came away with a National Diploma in Agriculture. After a stint in machinery manufacture and sales, he was…

Jim studied at Askham Bryan College and came away with a National Diploma in Agriculture. After a stint in machinery manufacture and sales, he was successful in joining the Velcourt management training scheme which took him from Yorkshire into Lincolnshire and then onto Kent.  He returned to Lincolnshire and in 2002 Flagleaf Farming Ltd was born for whom he has worked since, managing a number of farms to individual landowners’ requirements, as well as more recently being responsible for whole estate management. Jim lives near Lincoln with his wife and two daughters and numerous dogs.

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Andrew Teanby

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Mark Richardson

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James Walgate

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