Machinery dealer Suffolk Agri Centre closes after more than 30 years
29th February 2024
Suffolk farmers looking to purchase machinery from Bury St Edmunds-based dealership Suffolk Agri Centre arrived to find the gates locked and the site deserted save for a large amount of machinery still in the forecourt, as the company was forced to close down recently due to financial difficulties.
Offering new and used machinery, Suffolk Agri Centre’s key franchises included McCormick tractors, Krone, Cousins, Amazone, Teagle, Lynx and Stocks.
Posting online following speculation from farmers, the daughter of one of the owners confirmed that the company has gone out of business, commenting: “Yes, my Dad, David Eley has sadly had to close Suffolk Agri Centre, Pakenham after over 30 years.
“Dad just ran out of money… He has put in a lot over the past few years from his own pocket and private pension but in the end with such low margins it was inevitable.”
The news has led to many farmers lamenting the problems faced by all within the farming community, and the impact on ‘smaller’ dealerships struggling as a result.
Kindness and good service
A number of former customers responded sadly to the news, commenting that the Suffolk Agri Centre team was always very helpful and provided good service, while others were concerned whether they would receive their recent machinery order – including one farmer who had purchased an Amazone spreader but was yet to receive it. One reply to that farmer’s concerns stated: “Sadly I passed about 8 lorry loads of Amazone kit coming out of there this week…”
Jeremy Perkins of Silostop Agri posted on Facebook: “Sadly Suffolk Agricentre has gone in to receivership. A very sad time for David Eley, Ken and all the team that worked there.
“I only farm in a very small way and could never profess to be a big customer of their’s [sic] but they helped me out with many kindnesses from sourcing parts to repairs and upgrades and always on hand for things like kindly allowing me to unload/load on to lorries from their yard.
“[…] I do wish all those that worked there (many had very long service records) the very best for the future and their employment. […]
“For the village it’s another loss to the rural and agricultural identity of this lovely small corner of West Suffolk – I just hope the site doesn’t just become more houses as we morph into a dorm of Bury and Cambridge. Thank you again to all at Suffolk Agri Centre.”
McTear Williams & Wood, the Ipswich-based business rescue and insolvency company that is coordinating the closure of Suffolk Agri Centre, was approached for a comment but failed to respond.
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