Beet harvester company founder hands over the reins

Jeremy Riley, the majority shareholder and founder of long-established Vervaet importer J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) Ltd, has sold his remaining 50% stake in the business.

The company’s current sales manager, Matt Carse, has taken over as managing director with the full support of both Jeremy and manufacturer Frans Vervaet BV to take the company forward into the future.

Vervaet machines have been active in the UK since 1992. For the past two decades, the company’s sugar beet harvesters have been the market leaders in Britain, and recent new product introductions have seen the Dutch maker’s selfpropelled slurry application machinery achieving considerable sales success.

“The Vervaet product range has evolved massively over the years, and this company must move forward too,” explains Jeremy. “This business is all about the people involved, and I’ve been dealing with some customers for three generations, continuing relationships which go back to 1978 when I began selling Moreau harvesters with Fords of Salhouse. I rst met the Vervaet family in 1990 when Frans Vervaet came over with his son Robin. I liked them straightaway, and the fact that Vervaet was a family company meant you knew who you were dealing with. My relationship with Frans’ sons Robin and Edwin Vervaet has remained strong ever since. That we’ve never had a contract, with business concluded on trust, says it all, and we have become rm friends too.

“My children have gone their own ways, so I had to look outside of the family for succession,” explains Jeremy. “I believe that Matt shares the same values and ethos that we’ve had for the past 30 odd years; one of looking after and putting the sta and customers rst, and with his enthusiasm and background in our industry we believe that he is the right person moving forward. I would like to thank all of our customers for their support, and I want to visit as many as possible over the next few months to personally discuss these changes. I’m very con dent that, with the expert Riley team behind him, Matt will continue providing the same level of service that we’ve strived to maintain over many years.”

Robin Vervaet, commercial director at Frans Vervaet BV, has fond memories of early visits to the UK and the subsequent relationship that developed between the two companies as Rileys pushed ahead to develop Vervaet’s market share.

“We’ve had machines in the UK for 30 years this year, and I’ve known Jeremy since the very beginning,” says Robin. “I started in our company in 1989, and met Jeremy for the rst time the following year. Jeremy was very convinced that tanker harvesters were the future, and although we didn’t necessarily have the perfect machine in those early days, his experience and the backup he provided made for the best overall package.

“In 1992 the rst machine was sold to John Orford, a pioneering contractor from Norfolk. In 1993 we sold seven machines, and in 1994 we sold 10. This was initially through Armer Salmon, where Jeremy was general manager. But they also sold Moreau and, as sales increased, there was a con ict of interest – so Jeremy decided to go on his own and we’ve never looked back.

“There can’t be that many manufacturers and importers who have enjoyed such a long-lasting and harmonious relationship. We always look forward to coming over to see Jeremy; it’s also a friendship which has stood the test of time.

“To take over from Jeremy, we needed someone capable of both running the business and visiting customers,” further explains Robin. “From the second I shook hands with Matt Carse, I thought that he was our man. He has been involved with beet harvesters for a long time and knows the whole spectrum of a business like ours.

Although Matt is obviously a totally di erent person to Jeremy, he shares the same values, and I can’t think of anyone better to ll his shoes. We have high hopes that he will keep the business successful, and look after the sta and customers. We are also handing over the reins to the next generation in our company too, although Edwin and myself are still involved in management decisions. With sugar prices now increasing I’m hopeful that farmers and contractors will continue investing in machinery.”

“Anyone who knows Jeremy Riley personally will understand the sheer devotion and passion he has put into building up the business over the past decades to become market leader,” points out Matt Carse. “The company has become the agship for the entire industry to look up to. I think that the team at Riley’s should feel very proud to be part of this success, and they are recognised across the industry for their high level of service and customer support.

“I’ve dealt with sugar beet harvesters and slurry tankers for all of my working life, so as soon as the discussions started it felt right,” explains Matt. “I’m extremely con dent that we have the most experienced team and the right products in both the beet and slurry sectors to be able to increase our market share even further. Our sta and customers can rest assured that it’s business as usual as we aim to maintain the same high standards that Jeremy has infused so well into the Riley team.” FG

Free on-farm sugar beet harvester demonstrations

Sugar beet growers wanting to see the latest in harvester innovation from Grimme UK can now take advantage of free, on-farm demonstrations.

Grimme is currently touring the new Rexor beet harvester around the country, allowing growers to see it operating alongside their current harvester.

The free in- eld demonstrations are designed to give prospective purchasers a chance to see how the new Rexor handles their unique conditions.

Grimme launched two new Rexor models at its Farm Days event in the summer of 2022 – the Rexor 6200 (pictured) and the Rexor 6300 – with the Rexor 6200 currently available for demonstrations.

Both models feature completely redesigned digging attachments, which now possess seven cleaning rollers rather than six to ensure a more powerful and intensive clean. Thanks to the external frame, Grimme has ensured the driver always has an unobstructed view of the roller table and the entire digging unit.

Both new Rexors o er Oppel wheel and walking share digging units for harvesting in all conditions. They are also equipped with the CCI 1200 Isobus operator terminal and the Grimme SmartView video system, allowing the driver to easily display video images in real-time or slow motion to check the current work result. Up to eight camera images can be displayed on the 12in touchscreen monitor.

To book a demo with the latest Rexor sugar beet harvester, contact Grimme UK directly. FG

Worldwide supply with first class service

Garford Farm Machinery Ltd is a development, manufacturing and distribution company supplying high quality products to the UK and international agricultural market. It manufactures a range of robotic mechanical weed control products including Robocrop Precision guided hoes, Robocrop InRow weeders, Robocrop baby leaf hoes, Robocrop guided hooded sprayers, spot sprayers and side shifts.

The company was set up by the Garford family in 1986, and has since joined the Zurn Group, to continue to provide advanced technology within hoeing for progressive farmers.

Specialising in row crop equipment, Garford claims it is is recognised as a world leader for its range of products which use cameras and image analysis software to locate the position of the crop and guide the tractor mounted equipment left and right to follow the crop row as necessary.

As well as servicing its customer base in the UK, the specialised Garford Farm Machinery products are sold worldwide. The company prides itself on listening to farmers and identifying their needs, then through the custom build manufacturing facility, provide unique equipment, speci c to its customers’ requirements.

If you would like more product information or to discuss weed control, get in touch with the Garford team directly. FG

The latest REXOR 6200 (20 tonne bunker) is available with either Walking Share or Oppel Wheel digging units. The new header is lighter, has a maintenance free drive, scalper and gives the driver an unobstructed view. Seven cleaning rollers are now standard for more powerful and efficient cleaning.

For the operator, everything is in sight and immediately accessible thanks to the latest CCI 1200 ISOBUS terminal and the GRIMME SmartView video system, which has a unique slow-motion format and zoom function.

The new 6200 is available with up to five years’ warranty and comprehensive service options.

Unmatched precisionatveryhighspeed

VäderstadTempoisanewgenerationhigh-speedplanter,deliveringanunmatchedprecisionatdouble thespeedoftraditionalplanters.No-till,min-tillorconventionaltillage–Tempoperformsexceptionally inallconditions.Thecropsgetsthebeststartpossiblewhichresultsinanevenemergence.

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