ANM Group has launched a new campaign encouraging farmers in Angus and Perthshire to make use of its Thainstone auction mart.
The north-east farmers’ co-operative is encouraging livestock farmers, outwith its traditional trading area in the north and north-east, to take advantage of reduced travel times to its Inverurie auction mart.
It said the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (City Bypass) earlier this year had made the mart more accessible than ever before from the south and south-west.
“The new road investment has transformed the transport infrastructure of the north-east, and we have already received new interest in the mart from many who were previously discouraged by the journey through Aberdeen,” said ANM Group chief executive, Grant Rogerson.
“With transit times now reduced by up to an hour, Thainstone is a great option for livestock producers in Angus, the Mearns and Perthshire.”
Thainstone auctioneer, Rory Livesey, said the new road was enabling ANM Group to realise its strategic plans to push into new markets.
He said: “Every week we are seeing new evidence that the improvement in road connections is opening up new opportunities for us, and a new selling option for livestock farmers in my area. It is a win-win for the whole Scottish farming sector – more choice, reduced time and cost in travel and transport, and our co-operative community-owned model available to more buyers and sellers than ever before.”
Graeme Farquharson, who farms at Meikle Coull Farm, Tannadice, Angus, said: “The bypass has made a big difference for us travelling to Thainstone and the service we receive is excellent.”