Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. supplies high-quality barley, wheat and maize for use in animal feeds across Northern Ireland and beyond. We visited the company’s Banbridge, County Down base to get an insight into the operation from founder Pat Sloane.
Unseen by most and operating very much behind the scenes, Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. plays a crucial role in the health and welfare of livestock on countless farms in Northern Ireland and sometimes south of the border. Animals tend to thrive when they have a healthy, balanced diet, so it is essential that the best-quality grains go into their feeds.
This is where Ballinaskeagh Grains come in: for 25 years, they have been providing farmers and mills with premium proteins and maize products for use in animal feeds. By sourcing and supplying quality products, the business has thrived down through the years and continues to do so.
Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. is a family business which was established by Pat Sloane. The roots of the business go back to 1981. Unsurprisingly, Pat hails from a strong agricultural background – livestock, to be precise.
“We started off with livestock, buying cattle and sheep,” he reflects. “We got into grains in 1990 and we did that hand in hand with the livestock for a while before deciding to geo into the grains full time.” It was an inspired decision and Pat has never looked back. Today, gainful employment is provided to a team of 15 people from their base near Banbridge, County Down.
The vast majority of grains supplied are sourced in Ireland. Expanding a little bit on the exact nature of the business, the managing director explains: “We supply the grains which are used as raw materials in animal feeds, predominantly cattle and pig feeds. The grains are supplied to the feeders and they then grind them down and make their own feeds.
“The maize is imported but the barley and wheat would be native Irish grains, apart from on the rare occasions when we can’t source them at home. When they’re not available domestically, we will import them.”
Demand is steady, constant… Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. operates a fleet of six artics – five Volvos and one MAN – which are on the road around the clock, collecting and delivering. A fleet of modern, immaculately-maintained Muldoon blown trailers makes sure that all produce arrives not just on time but in perfect condition.
“You have to run respectable and well-maintained vehicles. Hygiene and safety are of paramount importance and we comply with all existing legislation and regulations governing the bulk haulage industry. We’re extremely conscious of that and operate to the very highest standards.”
For balanced, nutritious, profitable feeds, fresh, natural ingredients are essential. That’s why none of the grains are stored by Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. To the contrary, they go straight from source to end user. “Even if you are importing, you go straight from the port to the farm or the mill. It’s important to get the grains to the farmer as quickly as possible.”
Business is going very well and Pat has benefited from a large degree of customer loyalty down through the years, whilst also regularly picking up new customers along the way. This, of course, can only be achieved when you supply high-quality produce – an area in which Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. has never been found wanting.
“It has worked out really well for us,” Pat confirms. “We have had a lot of customer loyalty and 95% of them will look after you and would never see you stuck. In turn, it is our responsibility to look out for them, both with a reliable product and a dependable service. This is a customer-orientated business and we do everything we can to achieve complete customer satisfaction. When you look after customers, there’s a strong chance they will come back and do business with you again.”
As well as quality, customers will also demand a keen price. Pat admits that supplying grains at the lowest possible price without compromising on quality – something he will never do – is an ongoing battle. “It’s always a challenge and obviously you want to supply the grains as cheaply as you possibly can. So you run an efficient operation and keep your overheads down and pass those savings on to your customers.
“At the end of the day, people are being pushed to the pins of their collars to produce their milk and pork and beef etc. at the lowest cost possible – and feed is their biggest expense. Naturally, they want to get the raw materials at the best price they can, but they also need to secure high-quality raw materials. We use tried and trusted suppliers and all our grains are rigorously inspected at the time of purchase. Nothing is left to chance and we pride ourselves on supplying high-quality grains at a fair price.”
As a family business, Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd. provides a personal touch. Pat’s daughter Gail is a mainstay of the operation, while his son-in-law is transport manager.
Looking to the remainder of 2015, Pat hopes to keep things progressing as best he can by continuing to provide an exceptional service. “We’ll continue as we are and hopefully expand as time and demand allow, and as the agricultural sector allows. There’s no doubt that agriculture is the backbone of Ireland. That’s what’s keeping the economy ticking over.
“We’ll also continue to invest in the business. We keep abreast of new technology as it emerges and we are continuously updating and modernising our systems. It’s another way of making sure we offer a great product and service.
“Grain is our specialist area and it will continue to be so. That’s where we are and we will stick to it. We have been very attentive to it and it has looked after us. Hopefully that will continue for many more years to come.”
Ballinaskeagh Grains Ltd.,
14 Glaskerbeg Road,
Ballynaskeagh,
Banbridge,
County Down.
Tel: 028 40651269 / 40651325
Fax: 028 40651366
Email: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 4, May 2015
