GEORGE BROWNS ADDS ANOTHER TRACTOR FRANCHISE

Well-known as a Kubota machinery dealer, George Browns Ltd, is adding Deutz-Fahr to its list of farm equipment franchises.

The dealership says the move is designed to underscore its commitment to farming and expand its product offering to match the needs of large-scale arable farmers and contractors who operate high-output equipment of the type available from Browns’ other suppliers. Three of George Browns’ branches, stretching across territory from London to Birmingham, are covered by the agreement with Deutz-Fahr parent business SDF UK, and the company’s existing franchises are unaffected. 

According to Steve Brown, the firm’s managing director, pairing with Deutz-Fahr underlines George Browns’ intention to grow its agricultural business and strengthen its support for its farmer customers. 

“Our other franchises offer our customers four-cylinder tractors of 170hp and below, plus a full line of implements, but as the latter includes a wide selection of high-output equipment suited to high-horsepower six-cylinder tractors, we had been considering options that would give us access to the sector above 200hp, and serve our region’s large arable farms in particular,” says Steve.

“The Deutz-Fahr range is an ideal fit, giving us models with twice the maximum power output we currently offer, at up to 340hp with the Deutz-Fahr 9 Series. With the top-end 6 Series models, plus the 7 Series and the 8 series, we also gain a strong suite of six-cylinder models in the important 200-300hp bracket, enabling us to provide the power farmers and contractors need in a key sector of the market across our region of mid-England, and complementing our top-end arable and forage equipment offerings. We can also offer a wider choice to customers seeking tractors below 200hp.”

The appointment marks the first time for a number of years that Deutz-Fahr tractors have been marketed through a multi-branch dealer in the UK, points out Steve, a factor he believes underscores both parties’ trust and ambition in the agreement.

“Despite operating four depots, though, we remain very much a family business, with family ownership and management. We span a wide geographical area, and have reshaped our business of late into a ‘new style’ George Browns, focusing on our four depots at Chesham in Buckinghamshire, Daventry in Northamptonshire, Dunmow in Essex and our newest site at Witney in Oxfordshire, but we don’t consider ourselves a ‘super dealer’ in terms of philosophy, or in the way such businesses are often dictated to in which franchises they can hold. Each branch is managed on the same family basis. Farmers, contractors and other customers depend on us for the personal service and support expected from a family business in which all our team are invested."

Graham Barnwell, SDF UK country manager, added, “The addition of a company of George Browns’ standing is a clear illustration of our intentions to bolster Deutz-Fahr’s UK dealer network and build on our market share progress, in spite of the tough times being faced by the industry."