As reported last month in the Irish Farmers Journal, John Heaphy has been appointed as the new General Manager of ATC group. The ATC group specialises in the buying of agricultural products and farm inputs, some of which are sold to farmers under the co-op Source brand through its co-operative members.

Mr Heaphy is a management accountant by profession and a specialist in procurement management. As general manager, ATC says he will spearhead the re-engineering and planned strategic growth of ATC operations.

This will include the formation of mutually beneficial partnerships with suppliers who are interested in working with ATC to provide quality, value and choice for the co-operative farming community.

Welcoming the appointment, ATC Chairman Pat Moriarty said, “Associated Trading Co-operatives is owned by its co-operative members where our common goal is to provide quality products at competitive prices through economies of scale in purchasing.

"This is particularly important in a climate of currently reduced world prices for agricultural produce and also in view of the expansion agenda for Irish food exports.

"To maximise returns from their enterprises, it is essential for farmers to manage the cost of their farm inputs and our co-operative members are working together to support them in this task through Associated Trading and the Co-op Source Brand.”