Ruralco announces $1.25 million profit
Mid Canterbury based farm supplies co-operative, Ruralco has recorded a $1.25 million profit for the 2025 financial year following two difficult trading years.
The result is due to a disciplined approach to re-set and refocus the business for long-term sustainability. “The last 12 months has seen continued efforts to minimise expenses, reduce debt, and put strategies in place to increase sales and profitability, while also increasing close connections with our Shareholders, listening to what they need from Ruralco to lower farming input costs,” says Ruralco CEO, Tony Aitken.
The $175k trading profit, along with accounting adjustments, make up the $1.25 million profit. These accounting adjustments include a $1.155 million gain on the sale of the Rakaia buildings.
“Achieving a trading profit of $175k for the 2025 financial year has been particularly pleasing as it indicates continued Shareholder confidence in Ruralco. We exist to deliver choice and real value through service, relationships, and savings that matter in Mid Canterbury’s highly competitive farm supplies market,” says Tony.
“We have continued a careful assessment of our cost structures, and made prudent, and at times difficult decisions. This has resulted in reduced head count across the business, and the sale of our Rakaia buildings. While Ruralco has divested itself of the bricks and mortar at Rakaia, it is still very committed to the area, negotiating a long-term tenancy arrangement, recognising it plays a vital role in supporting our Shareholders in this area and the local community,” says Tony.
Debt reduction has also been a strong focus over the last financial year, with the business taking a stronger stance on recovering bad debtors and putting processes in place to protect Ruralco from potential bad debt risk.
Resetting its strategy to be locally focused has been a positive move for the co-operative. Over the last 12 months it has created multiple opportunities to connect with Shareholders including local A & P Shows, an inaugural Golf Classic to support the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the Spend for Your School initiative which gives back to local primary schools, Ladies Night (again partnering with Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust), and Ruralco’s flagship event, Instore Days which again attracted over 2,200 attendees.
“Ruralco holds a unique place in Mid Canterbury’s farming landscape. It is New Zealand’s only regional, farmer-owned co-operative dedicated to lowering input costs for local farmers and we are committed to continuing to support a thriving future for our rural community,” says Tony.
Ruralco’s Annual Report for the 2025 financial year has been released ahead of the co-operative’s 62nd Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday 18 November 2025 at the Hotel Ashburton at 11am. Four candidates have been nominated for two Director vacancies on the Board. Current Director, Rhea Booker is retiring by rotation (as per the Society’s constitution) and is seeking re-election, with Mid Canterbury farmers, Richard Fitzgerald, Cole Groves, and Matthew Paton also seeking election to the Board.
“It’s great to see such a strong line-up of candidates wanting to join the Ruralco Board, which is a vote of confidence in what we are doing, and another indicator of the increased support we are seeing from our Shareholders,” says Tony.
“It is important people engage in the voting process, and we encourage as many Shareholders as possible to vote and exercise their right to have their say,” he says.
To find out more about the 2025 Ruralco Annual General Meeting here: www.ruralco.co.nz/AGM
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