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Kelvin Sloper

The year since I joined the AF Machinery team has to be the most challenging time I’ve seen in my lifelong career in agricultural supply and merchanting. The agricultural industry has faced the problems caused by inflation, product shortages and economic turmoil.

Layers of learning

Before joining AF, I worked for a long-established machinery dealership with diverse responsibilities for sales, purchasing and finances. Prior to this, I spent time with an importer of agricultural implements and also worked for a large multi-national company as well as spending several years with an agricultural co-operative.

Harnessing experience

I now use the knowledge and experience gained to procure machinery products for AF Members. With recent rapidly changing markets, having valuable insight to how supply chains work for the products we supply to our members has been of huge benefit as we look to secure both value for money and certainty of supply.

Dazzled by diversity of what we procure

I am continually amazed at the diversity of the items we secure for members. Although I had been a supplier to AF, it wasn’t until I started here that I became aware of the volumes of hire equipment, harvest plastics and tyres etc. that AF sources. Learning about these services and products has been very interesting and I enjoy the challenge to find the right products quickly and for best value to match Members’ requirements.

Doing deals nationally for local supply

As well as dealing with the regular enquiries we receive, I also look for new opportunities to help us provide a full service for all the products we offer in areas of the UK where we have been historically short of suppliers. Although many of our suppliers offer a nationwide delivery service, sometimes Members appreciate having AF suppliers local to them. We are always looking to establish new and additional supply relationships.

Having a good name for great service

AF may procure a wide range of machinery products. Members have entertained me with the wide range of variations of my name they use. I have been asked for or written to as Calvin, Kevin, Keith, Kyle and more.

However – or whatever – you call me, just as with all my AF colleagues, I’m here to help.

Kelvin Sloper   Machinery Specialist

kelvin.sloper@af.farm  01603 881 926