Big Changes For Turfonline Founders

Dave and Angela Mackay, Directors of Turfland and pioneers in the online turf business Turfonline; have announced this week that they are planning to make a big change in their lives.

The couple are handing the reins of the business over to Stuart and Chantall Ridd-Jones. The couple who, as Directors of Harrowden Turf Ltd, are committed to continue developing and improving the business.

Turfonline: A family business through and through

Dave and Angela took over the business of running Turfland in 1996 from Angela’s parents, Chris and Janet Watmore.  Now, 20 years-on and after guiding the business through a great many changes in the UK landscape industry; they have taken the difficult decision to step back from turf production and return to Dave’s home country of New Zealand.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make” says Angela.  “This business has been a major part of my life since childhood but Dave and I now have to think of our family and what’s best for all of us going forward.  We have thought long and hard about moving to New Zealand; it’s where Dave was brought up, where we started our life together and where the family spends time every winter.  Two of our three children have reached a break-point in their education which means that now is the ideal time for us to make that move.”

She added “We are leaving the business on a high with healthy profits, a fantastic team of people and a great customer base” says Angela. “It’s a bit like an athlete retiring at their peak. We are proud of what we have achieved over the last 20 years and we can see Stuart and Chantall taking the business to new heights.”

A new family takes the reins

Stuart and Chantall Ridd-Jones came to the turf industry back in 2007. Their Northamptonshire business, Harrowden Farms Ltd expanded by buying a farm in Norfolk.  Q Lawns turf growers was part of the deal and so the Ridd-Jones family became landscape suppliers.

In 2010 they bought Turfland and Turfonline; This was swiftly followed by the acquisition of Stewarts Turf in Scotland and Spearhead Turf in Cambridgeshire.  The strengths of each Company were combined and earlier this year the businesses merged to form Harrowden Turf Ltd.

Stuart and Chantall are both from farming backgrounds and are both qualified accountants. Therefore they have a good understanding of large scale cropping and running a successful business.  They too have a young family and like the Mackay’s they are passionate about the turf industry, the people it employs and the customers it serves.

Continuing to pioneer change

Turfland has always been a forward thinking company.  They were the first turf growers to use weedkillers back in the ‘60‘s; the first to use a proper mowing regime instead of sheep; and among the first to bring Brouwer turf harvesting machinery into the UK.   That ethos looks set to continue under the Ridd-Jones’ management. Stuart has already introduced a new IT system to streamline communications between customers, staff and suppliers and Turfonline.co.uk – the Company’s main e-commerce website is continually being kept up to date.

“Having spent 6 years working closely with Angela and Dave Mackay, we’re truly saddened to see them leave. They will definitely be missed and it will be difficult to replace that level of expertise and experience. However, we wish the whole family well on their new adventure and can’t wait to visit them for a holiday” Said Chantall Ridd-Jones.

“How many people have the privilege of doing something they love and get paid for it?” says Dave, “well I can . I’ve learnt a great deal and met some fantastic people, its been a prividge to lead a great team of motivated people that I’ve really enjoyed working with. I’m sorry to be leaving but looking forward to new challenges and opportunities.’

Filling the gap

The departure of Angela and Dave Mackay leaves a huge vacancy at Harrowden Turf – the role of turf production manager on the farm at Southport in Lancashire.  If you would like to apply for the post please contact Harrowden Turf Ltd on 01832 777100

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