Latest Ruralco News

Nathan and Karen Smith own two shoe shop and apparel stores in Timaru, The Shoe Shop and Stompz. As a teenager, Nathan worked in his parents’ shoe shop that they had owned since he was 4 years old. Nathan and Karen bought the original store Cobbler’s Inn in 2001, and subsequently started J-Walk and Stompz from there. Cobbler's Inn and J-Walk have recently amalgamated into The Shoe Shop. All stores partner with Ruralco and they actively promote this on a regular basis.

Richard Rayward started Air Safaris in 1970, flying out of Mesopotamia Station in the Rangitata Valley. For the first three years he concentrated on flying in guests for hunting, fishing and tramping from his small airplane.

Ed Body started his fencing business 25 years ago as the dairy industry was kicking off in Canterbury. Ed saw the need for quality fencing for the conversions, and quickly picked work up as a skilled and respected fencing contractor. Ed and his team not only do fencing, but have diversified into building cattle and sheep yards, hay sheds and urban fencing. 

Tony and Sharon Watson took over Mayfield Spraying in July 2021, after searching for a new business venture to run as their own. Tony has always worked on farms, so understands well how they operate and the challenges they face.

Dan Cosgrove Ltd specialises in silo manufacturing, commercial and residential roofing and cladding, water tanks and effluent tanks for farms. They also are certified structural steel fabricators and engineers.

Matt and Belinda Fine opened the Fine Lion in November 2020. Having owned and run bars and restaurants for years, this powerhouse couple are nothing new to the hospitality sector. They saw a gap in Ashburton for an up-market and fun bar restaurant experience, so started the Fine Lion ‘bringing a little of Christchurch to Ashburton’.

Anna Wilson started Tanglez Hair Studio 14 years ago from a small cottage at her home. After having children and moving to her partner’s dairy farm, Anna chose a location to start her salon in central Ashburton. She employs 12 staff and counts them as part of her family.

Franz Lieber came to NZ from Austria back in 1979. Working as an executive chef in Aotearoa’s top hotels, Franz soon began to realise that there was more to life. He and his wife had a holiday home near Fairlie and in 2009 decided to open a wee bakery there to ‘see how it goes’. With Franz’s passion for baking and motto of ‘fresh is best’, he was adamant that all the fare had to be made on site using seasonal local produce.

Robilliard’s Showcase Jewellers was established in 1896 in Ashburton. Mark Douglas bought the company 14 years ago, choosing to downscale from working in big retail. He loves the interaction and relationship he has with locals and some of his staff have been with him since purchasing the store. He believes this plays a huge part in the shop’s success.

Recognised leader in hoof care services and hoof care products, VeeHof Dairy Services Limited and the Dairy Hoofcare Institute NZ have been setting the standard of hoof care in New Zealand since it was established by Fred and Sandy Hoekstra more than 20 years ago.